BS104-4-SP-CO:
Microbiology
2023/24
Life Sciences (School of)
Colchester Campus
Spring
Undergraduate: Level 4
Current
Monday 15 January 2024
Friday 22 March 2024
15
02 August 2023
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
BSC C700 Biochemistry,
BSC C701 Biochemistry (Including Placement Year),
BSC C703 Biochemistry (Including Year Abroad),
BSC CR00 Biochemistry (Including Foundation Year),
BSC C100 Biological Sciences,
BSC C101 Biological Sciences (Including Year Abroad),
BSC C102 Biological Sciences (Including Placement Year),
BSC CD00 Biological Sciences (Including Foundation Year),
BSC B990 Biomedical Science,
BSC B991 Applied Biomedical Science (NHS placement),
BSC B995 Biomedical Science (Including Year Abroad),
BSC B999 Biomedical Science (Including Placement Year),
BSC BD00 Biomedical Science (Including Foundation Year),
MSCIB099 Biomedical Science,
MSCIBA99 Biomedical Science (Including Placement Year),
MSCIBB99 Biomedical Science (Including Year Abroad),
BSC C520 Ecology and Environmental Biology,
BSC C521 Ecology and Environmental Biology (Including Foundation Year),
BSC C522 Ecology and Environmental Biology (Including Year Abroad),
BSC C523 Ecology and Environmental Biology (Including Placement Year),
BSC C400 Genetics,
BSC C402 Genetics (Including Year Abroad),
BSC C403 Genetics (Including Placement Year),
BSC CK00 Genetics (Including Foundation Year),
BSC C161 Marine Biology (Including Foundation Year),
BSC C164 Marine Biology,
BSC CC60 Marine Biology (Including Year Abroad),
BSC CC64 Marine Biology (Including Placement Year),
BSC C110 Biotechnology,
BSC C111 Biotechnology,
BSC C112 Biotechnology,
BSC C113 Biotechnology,
MSCIC114 Biotechnology,
BSC C200 Human Biology,
BSC C201 Human Biology (Including Year Abroad),
BSC C202 Human Biology (Including Placement Year),
BSC C220 Human Biology (Including Foundation Year),
MSCIC098 Biochemistry and Biotechnology (Including Year Abroad),
MSCIC099 Biochemistry and Biotechnology (Including Placement Year),
MSCICZ99 Biochemistry and Biotechnology,
MSCIB097 Tropical Marine Biology,
MSCIBA97 Tropical Marine Biology (Including Placement Year),
MSCIBB97 Tropical Marine Biology (Including Year Abroad),
BSC C555 Microbiology,
BSC C556 Microbiology (Including Foundation Year),
BSC C557 Microbiology (Including Year Abroad),
BSC C558 Microbiology (Including Placement Year),
MSCIC559 Microbiology and Biotechnology
This module introduces microbiology from historical landmarks to the modern microbiology era including microbial diversity, structure and function, microbial genetics and the importance of microbes to humans and the environment.
Students will acquire practical skills enabling microorganisms to be handled, grown, purified, counted, characterised and killed. Infectious disease remains a major problem despite many advances in prevention and treatment. This module will also look at some of the main types of infectious agents and how they cause disease.
The aim of this module is:
- To introduce microbiology through theory and practical skills.
By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:
- Understand the importance of microorganisms in the environment, industry and disease.
- Understand how microorganisms are classified, and describe the basic structure, physiology and genetic diversity of microorganisms (prokaryotes, eukaryotes and viruses).
- Work effectively with microorganisms in the laboratory, demonstrating aseptic techniques, serial dilution, microbial growth, enumeration, response to antibiotics, identification by staining and microscopy.
- Understand how different media types may select for different environmental microorganisms.
- Understand the necessity for sterilisation.
- Identify major sources of contamination.
- Determine the effect of antibiotics on microbial growth.
Skills for Your Professional Life (Transferable Skills)
By the end of this module, students will be expected to have developed the following transferable skills:
- Microscopy.
- Aseptic techniques.
- Cultivation and growth control of microorganisms.
- Identification and counting of microorganisms.
- Data and statistical analysis.
No additional information available.
This module will be delivered via:
- One 1-hour lecture per week.
- One revision class before the MCQ exam.
- One revision class before the summer exam.
- Two 3-hour practical sessions.
The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course.
The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students.
Further reading can be obtained from this module's
reading list.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Coursework |
Prac 1 and DAI |
|
|
| Exam |
MCQ exam: In-Person, Closed Book, 50 minutes during Early Exams
|
| Exam |
Main exam: In-Person, Open Book (Restricted), 60 minutes during Summer (Main Period)
|
| Exam |
Reassessment Main exam: In-Person, Open Book (Restricted), 60 minutes during September (Reassessment Period)
|
| Exam |
Reassessment MCQ exam: In-Person, Closed Book, 50 minutes during September (Reassessment Period)
|
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Aurelie Villedieu, email: a.villedieu@essex.ac.uk.
Dr Corinne Whitby, Dr Selwa Alsam, Dr Efsathios Giotis
School Undergraduate Office, email: bsugoffice (Non essex users should add @essex.ac.uk to create the full email address)
Yes
No
No
No external examiner information available for this module.
Available via Moodle
Of 287 hours, 0 (0%) hours available to students:
287 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s).
* Please note: due to differing publication schedules, items marked with an asterisk (*) base their information upon the previous academic year.
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