Biology 312: Microbiology Spring 2017
Lecture 1: An Introduction to Microbiology
Outline
I.
II.
III.
Introduction to the Course
a. Course Overview
b. Course Rules
Assigning Teams and Case Studies
a. Assigning Teams
b. Assigning Case Studies
Living in a Microbial World
a. The Ubiquity and Importance of Microbial Life
i. What are microbes?
ii. Where are microbes found?
Everywhere!!!
iii. What do microbes do (Microbial Ecology)?
1. Decomposers
P. gigantea found fruiting on a red pine log in a northern
Minnesota forest, where the fungus, an aggressive
saprophyte, is commonly found on downed logs or cut
timber. Photo courtesy of Robert A. Blanchette (University
of Minnesota)
2.
Primary Producers
b. The Science of Microbiology
c. The Scientific Method
Sulfur-cycling bacteria are primary producers in deep
thermal vent ecosystems
Photosynthetic bacteria in a hot sulfur spring
http://www.calacademy.org/exhibits/xtremelife/life_on_ear
th.php
3 Nutrient Cyclers
4.
Beneficial Associations with Animals and Plants
Digestion of cellulose, nitrogen fixation and other cool stuff
iv.
Medical Microbiology
1. Microbial Growth in Pure Culture
2. Koch’s Postulates
3. Immunization
4. Antimicrobials