526-301 Microbial Cells and Genomes
Page Contents
Include: Subject Information | Generic Skills
Also see:
- Subject Timetable (Link to Subject Timetable in Student Information System)
- Lecture Schedule
- Quality of Teaching Survey 2007
- LMS link - link to subject information, quizzes, lecture notes, discussion board etc. (Note: This is a password protected site available only to students currently enrolled in this subject.)
Subject Information
Coordinators:
Credit Points: 12.5
Prerequisites:
Microbiology 526-201; either biochemistry 521-211 and 521-212, or genetics 652-214 and 652-215; one of microbiology 526-221, biochemistry 521-220 or genetics 652-216.
BBiomed students:
Microbiology 526-201 or 526-205; 521-213 and 536-250.
Semester: 1
Contact:
36 lectures (three a week)
Readings:
Explanatory commentaries (Essential reading):
Pump up the versatility (Pseudomonas genome) NATURE VOL 406 p947, 2000.
E. Peter Greenberg
Tiny teamwork (Bacterial communication) NATURE VOL 424 p134, 10 JULY 2003. E. Peter Greenberg
The Streptomyces genome - be prepared NATURE BIOTECHNOLOGY David Hopwood VOL 21 p506-507 May 2003
Additional reading as detailed in the lecture sessions from:
Microbe Schaechter, Ingraham, Neidhardt ASM 2005 Book ISBN 1-55581-320-8
For general reference and optional background reading:
Microbial Physiology, 4th Edition Wiley, 2002 Albert
G. Moat (Editor), John W. Foster (Editor), Michael P. Spector (Editor) ISBN:
0-471-39483-1
Molecular Genetics of Bacteria, 2nd edition Larry Snyder and Wendy Champness. ASM Press 2003
Description/Objectives:
By the end of the subject students should:
- understand fundamental concepts of cell division, cell growth, and the transfer of substrates, macromolecules and signals across cell membranes;
- be able to describe the ways in which microorganisms function and interact with their environment and each other and regulate their genetic and metabolic potential to ensure their continued existence;
- be familiar with techniques and strategies such as mutant construction, and molecular cloning that are used to dissect microbial function;
- appreciate how microbial behaviour can be modified by changes to genotype or environment to facilitate use of microbes in biotechnological processes; and
- have developed the skills necessary to read and comprehend scientific
papers and interpret genomic data in electronic databases.
Students will enhance their ability to utilise information from textbooks, scientific literature and computer-based sources and logically apply broad principles to address a particular scientific question.
Assessment:
A 3-hour end-of-semester written examination (80%) and a written assignment during semester not exceeding a total of 3000 words (20%).
Generic Skills
This subject encompasses generic skills that are valuable in the application of modern biotechnology in a business or research setting, particularly in fields that depend on cell and gene manipulation, or that rely on insights into cell behaviour.
Upon completion of this subject students should be able to evaluate the primary research literature in modern biosciences and communicate a coherent report on research developments in the field of biotechnology. Students should also be able to retrieve specific information relating to a bioscience research topic from the bioinformatics databases, and gain insights into genefunctions using these tools.