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Syllabus ( MBG 410 )

   Basic information
Course title: Bacterial Ecology
Course code: MBG 410
Lecturer: Assist. Prof. Sonay ÖZKAN
ECTS credits: 5
GTU credits: 3 (3+0+0)
Year, Semester: 5, Fall
Level of course: First Cycle (Undergraduate)
Type of course: Area Elective
Language of instruction: English
Mode of delivery: Face to face
Pre- and co-requisites: None
Professional practice: No
Purpose of the course: To introduce students below topics:

- the importance of bacteria in the early evolution of the earth and the atmosphere
- bacterial growth and growth factors
- metabolic reactions carried out by bacteria to global biogeochemical cycling of elements: understand these reactions in terms of chemistry, microbial physiology, and the importance in the environment
- interactions among bacterial populations, interactions between bacteria and plants, interactions with animals
- extraordinary resistance of microbes to environmental stres
- how bacteria are useful ecologically in biotechnological and environmental applications
   Learning outcomes Up

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

  1. Comprehend the importance of bacteria in the early evolution of the earth and the atmosphere

    Contribution to Program Outcomes

    1. To be able to define general concepts and problems related to Molecular Biology and Genetics and to produce solutions.
    2. To be able to understand the relationship between matter and energy in organisms.
    3. To be able to explain the genetic information flow in organisms and populations.
    4. To be able to comprehend the history and nature of scientific thinking and to apply them to problems in the field.
    5. To be able to apply biological concepts to individual, social, economic, technologic and environmental issues and to develop sustainable approaches for problem solving.

    Method of assessment

    1. Written exam
  2. Grasp bacterial growth and growth factors

    Contribution to Program Outcomes

    1. To be able to define general concepts and problems related to Molecular Biology and Genetics and to produce solutions.
    2. To be able to explain the genetic information flow in organisms and populations.
    3. To be able to apply biological concepts to individual, social, economic, technologic and environmental issues and to develop sustainable approaches for problem solving.

    Method of assessment

    1. Written exam
  3. Identify metabolic reactions carried out by bacteria to global biogeochemical cycling of elements: understand these reactions in terms of chemistry, microbial physiology, and the importance in the environment

    Contribution to Program Outcomes

    1. To be able to define general concepts and problems related to Molecular Biology and Genetics and to produce solutions.
    2. To be able to define the structure-function relationship at the molecular level in cells and organisms.
    3. To be able to explain the genetic information flow in organisms and populations.
    4. To be able to apply biological concepts to individual, social, economic, technologic and environmental issues and to develop sustainable approaches for problem solving.

    Method of assessment

    1. Laboratory exercise/exam
  4. Identify the interactions among bacterial populations, interactions between bacteria and plants, interactions with animals

    Contribution to Program Outcomes

    1. To be able to define general concepts and problems related to Molecular Biology and Genetics and to produce solutions.
    2. To be able to explain the genetic information flow in organisms and populations.
    3. To be able to follow current scientific and technological innovations with the awareness of continuous learning and to apply them in the field.
    4. To be able to apply biological concepts to individual, social, economic, technologic and environmental issues and to develop sustainable approaches for problem solving.

    Method of assessment

    1. Written exam
    2. Homework assignment
  5. Savvy the extraordinary resistance of microbes to environmental stress

    Contribution to Program Outcomes

    1. To be able to define general concepts and problems related to Molecular Biology and Genetics and to produce solutions.
    2. To be able to understand the relationship between matter and energy in organisms.
    3. To be able to define the structure-function relationship at the molecular level in cells and organisms.
    4. To be able to explain the genetic information flow in organisms and populations.
    5. To be able to apply biological concepts to individual, social, economic, technologic and environmental issues and to develop sustainable approaches for problem solving.

    Method of assessment

    1. Written exam
    2. Homework assignment
  6. Describe how bacteria are useful ecologically in biotechnological and environmental applications

    Contribution to Program Outcomes

    1. To be able to explain the genetic information flow in organisms and populations.
    2. To be able to apply biological concepts to individual, social, economic, technologic and environmental issues and to develop sustainable approaches for problem solving.

    Method of assessment

    1. Homework assignment
    2. Laboratory exercise/exam
   Contents Up
Week 1: Introduction to Bacterial Ecology: Ecology and evolution. historical development, biodiversity
Week 2: Bacterial Growth: Growth factors, types of culture media, physical and chemical conditions for microbial growth
Week 3: Quantitative Ecology: Numbers, biomass, and activities, measurement of bacterial growth, methods for measuring cell mass, methods for calculating the cell number, calculation of grow rate, continuous cultures, synchronous growth, controlling of growth.
Week 4: Effects of abiotic factors and environmental extremes on bacteria
Week 5: Interactions among bacterial populations, interactions between bacteria and plants, interactions with animals
Week 6: Bacterial pathogenicity
Week 7: Mid-term Exam, Biofilm
Week 8: Bacteria in their natural habitats: Air and water microbiology
Week 9: Bacteria in their natural habitats: Soil microbiology
Week 10: Biogeochemical Cycling: Carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen
Week 11: Biogeochemical Cycling: Nitrogen, sulfur, phosphorus, iron, and other elements
Week 12: Biodeterioration
Week 13: Bioremediation of xenobiotic and inorganic pollutants
Week 14: Bacteria in mineral and energy recovery and fuel and biomass production
Week 15*: Biocontrol: Bacterial pesticides, General Evaluation
Week 16*: Final Exam
Textbooks and materials: Sonay Özkan.2005. Bakteriyel Ekoloji Ders Notları
Recommended readings: 1- Microbial Ecology: Fundamentals and Applications (4th Edition). Atlas, R.M., Bartha R. Publisher: pearson. 1998.
2- Maier, R.M., I.L. Pepper, and C.P. Gerba. Environmental Microbiology. Academic Press. San Diego, CA.2000
3- Microbial Ecology of Oceans. Edited by David L. Kirchman. Publisher: Wiley. 2000.
  * Between 15th and 16th weeks is there a free week for students to prepare for final exam.
Assessment Up
Method of assessment Week number Weight (%)
Mid-terms: 7 40
Other in-term studies: 0
Project: 0
Homework: 0
Quiz: 0
Final exam: 16 60
  Total weight:
(%)
   Workload Up
Activity Duration (Hours per week) Total number of weeks Total hours in term
Courses (Face-to-face teaching): 3 14
Own studies outside class: 1 14
Practice, Recitation: 3 14
Homework: 0 0
Term project: 0 0
Term project presentation: 0 0
Quiz: 0 0
Own study for mid-term exam: 8 1
Mid-term: 2 1
Personal studies for final exam: 14 1
Final exam: 3 1
    Total workload:
    Total ECTS credits:
*
  * ECTS credit is calculated by dividing total workload by 25.
(1 ECTS = 25 work hours)
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