Joseph P. Ardizzi, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Biological and Allied Health Sciences
Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania

MICROBIAL AND MOLECULAR GENETICS 50.432/50.532 SYLLABUS AND RELATED INFORMATION

Below you will find the basic course syllabus with links to assignments, the seminar schedule, and the laboratory schedule as each is developed.

TEXT:

Snyder, L., and W. Champness. 2007. Molecular Genetics of Bacteria, Third edition. ASM Press, Washington, D.C.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course presents a study of macromolecules, macromolecular complexes, protein synthesis and gene regulation using viruses, bacteria, and lower eukaryotes. Topics include DNA/chromosome structure, genetic recombination, plasmids, transposons, recombinant DNA, and genetic analysis. The course will include approximately three hours of lecture and two hours of laboratory each week. The laboratory hours will vary.
Undergraduate Prerequisites: One of Genetics (50.332), Molecular Biology (50.333), or Biochemistry 1 (52.341)
Graduate Prerequisites: Admission to a Masters in Biology program

COURSE GOALS:

Lecture:

To investigate the contributions that studies of microorganisms are making in the areas of gene regulation and genetic structure.
To provide students with the opportunity to integrate material from the disciplines of biochemistry, molecular biology, and genetics with the discipline of microbiology.
To enable students to gain critical perspectives on molecular genetics.
To introduce students to current problems in gene control and expression.
To provide students with sufficient background to evaluate critically the current literature in microbial and molecular genetics

Laboratory:

To introduce students to the basic techniques of microbial and molecular genetics and to the application of those techniques.
To emphasize through laboratory exercises the value that different microorganisms have in answering specific questions in genetics.
To demonstrate and reinforce the principles discussed in lecture.
To give students sufficient experience to examine a problem in microbial genetics by designing an experiment, performing it, and presenting the results orally or in writing.

METHODS:

Lecture:

Lecture Component--The lectures will present background material supplemented with information obtained from recent journal articles and reviews. This integrated material will be analyzed and discussed.
Seminar Component--Seminars will be conducted by students. The seminars will consist of a presentation of a research topic including the necessary background information.
Written Paper--A term paper will be required, and the topic must be related to a particular lecture topic.

Laboratory:

Exercises--The students will perform a series of laboratory exercises that will reinforce and expand on the lecture topics.
Preparation--A team of students will be assigned to prepare each exercise and will be responsible for assisting the other students in conducting the exercise. The team will collect the results and present an analysis of the results to the class.
Hypothesis Testing--An experiment will be designed by each student team employing the techniques learned in the laboratory, either to answer a simple question in microbial genetics or to gain new information about an organism. The results will be presented in class.

EVALUATION PROCEDURES:

Students will be evaluated using the following criteria:

Examinations--The examinations will be designed to determine the students’ ability to interpret experimental results, design experiments, devise models, or in other ways indicate a fully integrated approach to course materials. There will be two essay examinations and a comprehensive final.
Research Papers--The research paper written on a course-related topic will be judged on the basis of the student's ability to present ideas clearly and critically while using information from the current literature. This paper will present a summary of current research results on a specific topic chosen by each student.
Seminar and Oral Summary--The seminars and the oral summary of the research project will be judged on the student’s ability to present information in an organized way, to demonstrate an understanding of the material presented, and to handle questions concerning the seminar topic or research project
Participation--Students are expected to participate meaningfully in each of the laboratory exercises.

Undergraduate Students

Examinations will consist of problems and essay style questions.
The research paper will be a review of a current problem and will conform to an essay format and be six to eight pages in length. At least six citations from current, primary scientific sources will be required.
The seminar presentations will be on two topics covered in lecture. Each will be informative and require a handout that must include your name, an outline of the material presented, and a bibliography.
For the laboratory exercises, your team must prepare handouts for the participants, conduct the exercise as the lab instructors, collect the data, and present the results to the class orally.
For the laboratory research project, your team must design an experiment, carry out the proposed research, and present the results orally to the class.

Graduate Students

Examinations will consist of problems, short essay questions, and longer analytical essay questions. In these latter questions, you will propose an original solution for each problem or relate a statement to other material covered in class.
The research paper will be a critical examination of a particular research problem or hypothesis in microbial or molecular genetics. This will be a research paper in format and be 10 to 14 pages long. At least 12 citations from current, primary scientific sources will be required.
The seminar presentations will be on two topics covered in lecture. One will be informative, and the other will be a critical evaluation. Each one will require a handout that must include your name, an outline of the material presented, and a bibliography.
For the laboratory exercises, your team must prepare handouts for the participants, conduct the exercise as the lab instructors, collect the data, present the results to the class orally, and produce a write up in research paper format.
For the laboratory research project, your team must design an experiment, carry out the proposed research, present the results orally to the class, and produce a written report suitable for publication in a scientific journal.

Course Requirements:

Examination 1	15% of the final grade	27 September 2007
Examination 2	15% of the final grade	08 November 2007
Final Examination	20% of the final grade	? December 2007
Research Paper	15% of the final grade	04 December 2007
	10/18--bibliography due
	11/01--outline due
	11/15--first draft due
	11/20--edited draft due
	12/04--final draft due
Seminars	10% of the final grade	See Seminar Schedule
:Lab Project	15% of the final grade	04 December 2003
	10/23--concept approval
	11/06--final proposal
	12/06--presentation
Participation	10% of the final grade

Note: The penalty for late assignments is 5 points for each day!

Other Notes:

Attendance: University attendance policy (PRP 3506) will be in effect and class attendance is expected.

Make up examinations will be provided if necessary and all university requirements for attendance are met. If class is cancelled, the examination will given the next class period.

If assistance is needed from Accommodative Services, the instructor must be notified by the end of the first week of classes.

Students are expected to adhere to the Academic Integrity Policy (PRP 3512). Failure to do so will results in penalties as provided by university policy.

Grading Scale:

A = 93 - 100	B+ = 87-89	C+ = 77-79	D+ = 67 - 69
A- = 90 - 92	B = 83 - 86	C = 73-76	D = 60 - 66
	B- = 80-82	C- = 70-72	E = 0 - 59

PROPOSED COURSE OUTLINE

Topics	Chapters*

Essentials and the Life Cycle of Selected Microbes	Introduction
Chromatin Structure and Replication in Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes	Chapter 1
Gene Expression in Microbial Systems	Chapter 2
Mutation and Mutagenesis	Chapter 3
Prokaryotic Plasmids	Chapter 4
Conjugation in Bacteria	Chapter 5
Transformation in Bacteria	Chapter 6
Prokaryotic Viruses	Chapters 7 and 8
Transposition in Prokaryotes and Lower Eukaryotes	Chapter 9
Recombination in Prokaryotes and Lower Eukaryotes	Chapter 10
DNA-Repair--Model Systems: E. coli and S. cerevisiae	Chapter 11
Regulation of Gene Expression in Bacteria and Fungi	Chapters 12 and 13
Classic Genetic Analyses in Lower Eukaryotes	Outside sources

The Laboratory:

Due to the nature of microbial experiments, work will be necessary outside of the regularly scheduled laboratory times. This work involves the preparation of materials and cultures for each exercise and the scoring of exercises. The list of exercises below is subject to change based on availability of supplies and time constraints. The laboratory schedule will be updated during the semester.

Exercises

Growth Curves and Determination of Generation Times for Bacteria and Lower Eukaryotes
Mutagenesis in Microbes: Radiation and Chemical Treatments
Transformation and Plasmid Compatibility in Bacteria
Viral Growth Curves and the Determination of Burst Size
Lactose Operon and Induction of b-Galactosidase
Viral Recombination and Map Distance Determination
Tetrad Analyses in Fungi
Other as time an supplies permit
Individual Projects

Note: Proper behavior is expected in the classroom and in the laboratory. Failure to conform to university standards or laboratory rules will result in a penalty applied against the final grade. The point penalty will be determined by the instructor. A warning will be given in the first instance; penalties will be applied for each succeeding instance.

Outside Sources:

Primary	Secondary

Biochemistry	Annual Review of Biochemistry
Cell	Annual Review of Cell Biology
Genetics	Annual Review of Genetics
Journal of Bacteriology	Annual Review of Microbiology
Journal of Biological Chemistry	Microbiological Reviews
Nature
National Academy of Sciences (USA), Proceedings
Science

In addition, you will find material in the library stacks on microbiology, molecular biology, and microbial genetics that will help you to examine the topics we cover in more detail. Also, the library subscribes to a variety of electronic journals through Serials Solutions and other sources that may be useful. Older reference material may be found in JSTOR. These resources may be helpful to you in designing and interpreting experiments.