MI2011 - Microbial Diversity

This subject covers basic concepts of the structure, classification, identification, metabolism and growth of bacteria, fungi, viruses, protozoan and metazoan parasites and other microbes. It introduces mechanisms of variation; microbial genetics and their application to recombinant DNA technology as well as the nutrition of microbes and influence of environmental parameters on growth and reproduction. Specific areas of environmental microbiology including soil, air, water and food and aspects of industrial microbiology are described.

Learning Outcomes

• describe the basic principles which regulate the activities and account for the behaviour of microorganisms and parasites and relate this to the environments in which they are found;
• outline the basic concepts which are fundamental to understanding the usefulness of microbes in biotechnology and recognise and discuss the relevance of microbes and parasites to public health, industry and agriculture;
• safely manipulate microbes in the laboratory, be skilled in the basic techniques used in microbial identification and interpreting results;
• read and interpret related scientific literature and plan and present on a related topic in a group format.

Subject Assessment

• end of semester exam (45%)
• quizzes or tests (15%)
• presentations (10%)
• assignments (30%).

Note: Minor variations might occur due to the continuous Subject quality improvement process, and in case of minor variation(s) in assessment details, the Subject Outline represents the latest official information.