mic3am advanced microbiology
ADVANCED MICROBIOLOGY
MIC3AM
2019
Credit points: 30
Subject outline
This subject introduces you to innovative scientific skills in Applied and Environmental Microbiology, Microbial Genetics and Microbial Cell Biology.Advanced laboratory classes provide you with a capstone experience comprising an ongoing laboratory program directly linked to the lecture topics, as well as an independent research project combining innovative project design with microbiological technical skills and scientific knowledge.The project culminates in a pitching session in which you present your project.The capstone experience focuses on the professional skills and competencies expected from a working microbiologist: working in a team, formulating hypotheses, designing/performing experiments, analyzing data, communicating results. La Trobe's Innovation and Entrepreneurship Essential is addressed by developing the ability to tackle problems creatively, generate and implement new ideas, achieve project milestones and pitch project goals and outcomes to others.
SchoolSchool of Life Sciences
Credit points30
Subject Co-ordinatorCarolyn Bell
Available to Study Abroad StudentsYes
Subject year levelYear Level 3 - UG
Exchange StudentsYes
Subject particulars
Subject rules
Prerequisites (MIC2MI or AGR3AH) and (MIC2MMV). If admitted into the Bachelor of Biomedical Science must have passed MIC2MMV.
Co-requisitesN/A
Incompatible subjects MIC3EPM
Equivalent subjectsN/A
Special conditionsN/A
Graduate capabilities & intended learning outcomes
01. Explain the use of culture and non-culture techniques in the study of microbial processes in the environment, and demonstrate integrated understanding of microbial processes in the environment and how these processes can be applied in real world scenarios.
- Activities:
- Lectures provide details on concepts in applied environmental microbiology, which will be complemented by laboratory sessions to reinforce, and give applied knowledge, on key concepts in the subject and direct hands-on experience of culturing and working with microorganisms. A final exam (2hrs) requires students to write short answer/essay style answers to scenario style questions related to environmental microbiology. Students also work on a short communication in a group following completion of the practical exercise.
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking,Quantitative Literacy,Cultural Literacy)
- Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking,Quantitative Literacy,Cultural Literacy)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Personal and Professional Skills(Teamwork including leadership and working in groups,Autonomy and independence,Ethical behaviour,Adaptability Skills,Study and Learning Skills)
- Personal and Professional Skills(Teamwork including leadership and working in groups,Autonomy and independence,Ethical behaviour,Adaptability Skills,Study and Learning Skills)
- Personal and Professional Skills(Teamwork including leadership and working in groups,Autonomy and independence,Ethical behaviour,Adaptability Skills,Study and Learning Skills)
- Discipline -Specific Knowledge and Skills(Discipline-Specific Knowledge and Skills)
02. Describe and explain concepts of microbial genetics (eg. Gene expression, regulation and plasmid biology) and microbial cell biology (eg. Movement signaling pathways, motility, microbial models used to understand brain diseases) and relate them to areas as diverse as biomedicine, agriculture and ecology.
- Activities:
- Lectures provide details on microbial genetics and microbial cell biology and laboratory sessions enable experiments to be conducted that illustrate the concepts. A final exam (3hrs) requires students to write short answer/essay style answers to scenario style questions related to microbial genetics and microbial cell biology.
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking,Quantitative Literacy,Cultural Literacy)
- Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking,Quantitative Literacy,Cultural Literacy)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Personal and Professional Skills(Teamwork including leadership and working in groups,Autonomy and independence,Ethical behaviour,Adaptability Skills,Study and Learning Skills)
- Personal and Professional Skills(Teamwork including leadership and working in groups,Autonomy and independence,Ethical behaviour,Adaptability Skills,Study and Learning Skills)
- Personal and Professional Skills(Teamwork including leadership and working in groups,Autonomy and independence,Ethical behaviour,Adaptability Skills,Study and Learning Skills)
- Discipline -Specific Knowledge and Skills(Discipline-Specific Knowledge and Skills)
03. Use key microbiological techniques to manipulate microorganisms for experiments in the laboratory, record and analyse data for interpretation and communication of results.
- Activities:
- Students are instructed on new techniques in the laboratory setting and concepts from lectures are reinforced. Records of experiments are made in laboratory note books. Analysis of the results of applied and environmental microbiological experiments are presented in the form of a journal style article. Students present information on the various key microbiological and cell biology techniques that they have used in the laboratory in the form of an individual workbook or a test. Students also present results of their own research project in the form of a poster.
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking,Quantitative Literacy,Cultural Literacy)
- Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking,Quantitative Literacy,Cultural Literacy)
- Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking,Quantitative Literacy,Cultural Literacy)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Personal and Professional Skills(Teamwork including leadership and working in groups,Autonomy and independence,Ethical behaviour,Adaptability Skills,Study and Learning Skills)
- Personal and Professional Skills(Teamwork including leadership and working in groups,Autonomy and independence,Ethical behaviour,Adaptability Skills,Study and Learning Skills)
- Personal and Professional Skills(Teamwork including leadership and working in groups,Autonomy and independence,Ethical behaviour,Adaptability Skills,Study and Learning Skills)
- Personal and Professional Skills(Teamwork including leadership and working in groups,Autonomy and independence,Ethical behaviour,Adaptability Skills,Study and Learning Skills)
- Personal and Professional Skills(Teamwork including leadership and working in groups,Autonomy and independence,Ethical behaviour,Adaptability Skills,Study and Learning Skills)
- Discipline -Specific Knowledge and Skills(Discipline-Specific Knowledge and Skills)
04. Work in a team to design, research and implement a microbiological research project in a timely manner.
- Activities:
- Work in a team to design and implement a microbiological research project in a timely manner
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking,Quantitative Literacy,Cultural Literacy)
- Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking,Quantitative Literacy,Cultural Literacy)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Personal and Professional Skills(Teamwork including leadership and working in groups,Autonomy and independence,Ethical behaviour,Adaptability Skills,Study and Learning Skills)
- Personal and Professional Skills(Teamwork including leadership and working in groups,Autonomy and independence,Ethical behaviour,Adaptability Skills,Study and Learning Skills)
- Personal and Professional Skills(Teamwork including leadership and working in groups,Autonomy and independence,Ethical behaviour,Adaptability Skills,Study and Learning Skills)
- Personal and Professional Skills(Teamwork including leadership and working in groups,Autonomy and independence,Ethical behaviour,Adaptability Skills,Study and Learning Skills)
- Personal and Professional Skills(Teamwork including leadership and working in groups,Autonomy and independence,Ethical behaviour,Adaptability Skills,Study and Learning Skills)
- Discipline -Specific Knowledge and Skills(Discipline-Specific Knowledge and Skills)
Subject options
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Melbourne, 2019, Semester 2, Day
Overview
Online enrolmentYes
Maximum enrolment size150
Enrolment information Quota due to limited lab space. Merit based quota an academic performance in first and second year.
Subject Instance Co-ordinatorCarolyn Bell
Class requirements
LectureWeek: 31 - 43
Four 1.0 hours lecture per week on weekdays during the day from week 31 to week 43 and delivered via face-to-face.
Laboratory ClassWeek: 31 - 43
Two 3.0 hours laboratory class per week on weekdays during the day from week 31 to week 43 and delivered via face-to-face.
Assessments
| Assessment element | Comments | % | ILO* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Written test (1-hour) (1,000-words equivalent) | 10 | 02, 03 | |
| Journal style article (500-words per student) 2% team contribution, 8% team submission | 10 | 01, 03 | |
| One 2-hour end of semester written exam (2,000-words equivalent) | 20 | 01, 02 | |
| One 3-hour end of semester written exam (3,000-words equivalent) | 40 | 01, 02 | |
| Workbook (1,000 words per student) | 10 | 02, 03 | |
| Research Project - poster presentation (500-words per student) 2% team contribution, 8% team poster | 10 | 03, 04 |