North South University

Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology

Course: Basic Microbiology
Course Code: BIO202

Course Outline

Course Instructor

Farzana Hossain, PhD

Assistant Professor
Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology
North South University
Bangladesh.

Phone: (+880) 255668200 Ext. 6848

Email: [email protected]

Consultation Hours (Spring 2025)

Wednesday_10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Office # SAC-811

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Disclaimer
The instructor holds the right to make necessary changes to the syllabus and the grading policies
outlined here to best accommodate the interest of the class.

1. RATIONALE
This is an introductory course in microbiology for microbiology and biochemistry
students which provide a background in many areas of microbiology with an emphasis
on diversity of microorganisms. This course will introduce students to the major
concepts, principles and applications of microbiology. Students will learn what
microorganisms are, how they function and how do they vary in terms of their
morphology, classification, reproduction, metabolism and disease production.

2. OBJECTIVES
The objective of this course is to;
• Provide students a solid background on diverse macro and micro life forms
(bacteria, archaea, algae, fungi, protozoa and viruses).
• Describes important historical developments which led to the formulation of the
germ theory of disease and those discoveries that lead to the development of the
science of biotechnology.

• Introduce students with archaeal diversity and life in extreme environments.

• Review structural and functional aspects of various cellular and sub-cellular
organelles.
• Introduce students with the techniques used to the cultivation of
microorganisms in the laboratory.
• Describe the basic structure and characteristics of viruses, how viruses infect
cells, with emphasis on animal viruses and bacteriophage.
• Make competent students who can apply the theories and principles of basic
microbiology to solve real-world situations and problems.

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3. LEARNING OUTCOMES

Upon completion of this course, the student will demonstrate knowledge and
skills in the following aspects―

Basic knowledge:
• Diverse macro and micro life forms, how they function and how they are
important in our life.
• Association of microorganisms with biogeochemical cycling and
industrial processes.
• Structural and functional aspects of various cellular and sub-cellular
organelles of different life forms.

Skills:
• Gain Hands-on experience on Isolation and identification of
microorganisms in the laboratory.

4. COURSE CONTENT

Course Description:
Microbiology is a specialized area of biology that deals with living things ordinarily too
small to be seen without magnification. This course will introduce students to the major
concepts, principles and applications of microbiology.

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Course Timeline
Topic

❖ The History and Scope of Microbiology

❖ Classification of Microorganisms.
Week 1 ❖ Morphology of Bacteria
to 4 ❖ Functional Anatomy of Prokaryotic Cell

Quiz 1 and Quiz 2

❖ Functional Anatomy of Eukaryotic Cell

❖ Growth of Bacterial Cultures
❖ Introduction to the Archaea
Week 4
to 8 ❖ Survey of Prokaryotic Groups with Unusual
Characteristics
Quiz 3 and Mid-Term

❖ Culture techniques and Culture media

❖ Nutritional Requirements of bacteria
❖ Methods of detection of microorganisms
❖ Introduction to the Viruses
Week 9
to 12 Quiz 4 and Final Exam

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Textbooks:
1. Foundations in Microbiology, Eighth Edition. 2011. Kathleen Park Talaro and
Arthur Talaro. The McGraw−Hill Companies, Inc., New York.

2. Prescott's Microbiology, Eighth Edition. 2010. Joanne Willey, Linda

Sherwood and Chris Woolverton. The McGraw−Hill Companies, New York.
3. Microbiology: An Introduction, Tenth Edition. 2010. Gerard J Tortora,
Berdell R Funke and Christine L Case. 2010. Pearson Benjamin Cummings,
San Francisco.
4. Microbiology, Fifth Edition. 1993. Michael J Pelczar Jr, ECS Chan and Noel R
Krieg. McGraw-Hill, Inc., New York.
5. Essential Microbiology. 2005. Stuart Hogg. John Wiley & Sons Ltd., West
Sussex.

5. TEACHING–LEARNING STRATEGY

Detailed lesson plans or activities to be undertaken for each lecture session have been
provided below:

Lecture 1
Activity Time
Discussion of tentative lesson plan of the course 20 min
Lecture on: The History and Scope of Microbiology 60 min
The Science of Microbiology and Application of microbes in
environmental, agricultural and industrial sectors. The Debate over
Spontaneous Generation, The Historical Foundations of
Microbiology, The Scope of Microbiology)
Interactive question answer session 10 min
Total: 90 min
Lecture 2
Activity Time
Preview of previous lecture 15 min
Lecture on: Do 60 min
Group Discussion and Question answer session 15 min
Total: 90 min
Lecture 3
Activity Time
Preview of previous lecture 15 min
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Lecture on: Classification of Microorganisms 60 min
Classification of Microorganisms, Nomenclature, Scientific
name, Aristotle’s classification scheme, The Main
Classification Groups (Taxa), Selecting a Classification System,
Two-kingdom classification scheme, Three-kingdom
classification scheme, Four-kingdom classification scheme,
Five-kingdom classification scheme, Six-kingdom
classification scheme, Domain System
Interactive question answer session 15 min
Total: 90 min
Lecture 4
Activity Time
Quiz 1 10 min
Preview of previous lecture 10 min
Lecture on: The Prokaryotic Groups 60 min
Size, Shape, Arrangement, Classification of Bacteria at Phyla level

Interactive question answer session 10 min

Total: 75 min

Lecture 5
Activity Time
Preview of previous lecture 15 min
Lecture on: Classification of Archaea and Eukarya at Phyla level 60 min

Interactive question answer session 15 min

Total: 90 min

Lecture 6
Preview of previous lecture 15 min
Lecture on: Functional Anatomy of Prokaryotic Cell 60 min
Structures external to the cell wall, cell wall itself, Structures internal
to the cell wall
Interactive question answer session 15 min
Total: 90 min

Lecture 7
Activity Time
Preview of previous lecture 15 min
Lecture on: Do 60 min
Interactive question answer session 15 min
Total: 90 min
Lecture 8
Activity: Time
Quiz 2 10 min
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Preview of previous lecture 10 min
Lecture on: Functional Anatomy of Eukaryotic Cell Locomotor 60 min
appendages, Cell membrane, Cell wall,
membranous network, Energyproducing organelles, Structures
internal to the cell membrane
Discussion 10 min
Total: 90 min
Lecture 9
Activity Time
Preview of previous lecture 15 min
Lecture on: Introduction to Archaea and Eukarya 60 min
Salient features, Archaeal Diversity and Taxonomy, Domain Archaea,
Crenarchaeota (Gram-Negative), Euryarchaeota (Gram-Positive to
Variable), Introduction on yeast, molds, Amoeba, paramecium,
euglena, slime molds, lichens
Interactive question answer session 15 min
Total: 90 min
Lecture 10
Activity Time
Preview of previous lecture 15 min
Lecture on: Unusual bacteria 60 min
Unusual Forms of Medically Significant, Free-Living Non-
Pathogenic Bacteria, Photosynthetic Bacteria
Interactive question answer session 15 min
Total: 90 min

Lecture 11
Activity Time
Review class on Midterm Syllabus 90 min
Lecture 12
Activity Time
MIDTERM Exam 90 min

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Lecture 13
Activity Time
Preview of previous lecture 15 min
Lecture on: The Study of Microbial Growth 60 min
Bacterial Multiplication, Logarithmic Representation of Bacterial
Populations, Phases of Bacterial Growth, Practical Importance of the
Growth Curve

Interactive question answer session 15 min

Total: 90 min
Lecture 14
Activity Time
Preview of previous lecture 15 min
Lecture on: Culture media 60 min
Solid media, liquid media, semi-solid media, simple media,
complex media, synthetic media, selective and differential
media.
Discussion 15 min
Total: 90 min
Lecture 15
Activity Time
Quiz 3 10 min
Preview of previous lecture 10 min
Lecture on: Culture techniques and The 5 I’s concept, Different 60 min
culture techniques i.e. Streak plate, pour plate and spread plate
and their significance. Measurement of microbial growth by
microscopic count, turbidity and flow cytometry.
Discussion 10 min
Total: 90 min
Lecture 16
Activity Time
Preview of previous lecture 15 min
Lecture on: Nutritional Requirements of Bacteria and Environmental 60 min
Factors Influencing Microbes
Introduction to micro and macronutrients, classification of
microorganisms based on their nutritional requirements, oxygen and
temperature.
Interactive question answer session 15 min
Total: 90 min

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Lecture 17
Activity Time
Preview of previous lecture 15 min
Lecture on: Preservation of Pure Culture 60 min
Interactive question answer session 15 min
Total: 90 min
Lecture 18
Activity Time
Preview of previous lecture 15 min
Lecture on: Virus and virus like agents 60 min
Interactive question answer session 15 min
Total: 90 min
Lecture 19
Activity Time
Quiz 4 10 min
Preview of previous lecture 10 min
Lecture on: Do 60 min
Interactive question answer session 10 min
Total: 90 min
Lecture 20
Activity Time
Review: Final exam syllabus 90 min

Lecture 21
Activity Time
Course viva 90 min

Lecture 22
Activity Time
Course viva 90 min

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ASSESSMENT STRATEGY

Grade Distribution

Attendance & Class Participation = 5% of final grade

Four Quizzes (Best 3 out of 4) = 30% of final grade
Mid-Term = 30% of final grade
Course viva/presentation = 5% of final grade
Final Exam = 30% of final grade

Grading Policy: http://www.northsouth.edu/academic/grading-policy.html

Attendance
Attendance and class performance are 5% of the final grade and is strongly encouraged. If a student is
unable to attend class due to some legit reasons (e.g., sickness, tragedy in the family, etc.), then they
should contact the Instructor with proper proof/documentation. Attendance is strictly monitored and is
regularly updated on NSU Online Attendance website. If a student misses three consecutive lectures,
their name will be reported to the Registrar’s office, and may be forwarded to the police in case of
emergency circumstances.

Attendance Percentage Marks

80% and above 5

Less than 80% to 50% 4
Less than 50% 0

Quizzes
There will be four Quizzes which will be based on the lectures and assigned textbook. Quiz is worth 10
points, and consists of MCQ, True/ False and matching and fill in the gap. The time allowed for each
Quiz is 10 minutes. BEST THREE WILL BE COUNTED.

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Mid-Terms
One Mid-Term will cover all the materials up until the week before. Mid-Term is worth 30 pts and
duration will be 80 minutes long. The break-down for Mid-Term questions is provided below:

Questions Points Time

Part I Multiple-choice
10 pts 10 min
(MCQs) questions
Part II Mix of short and
20 pts 70 min
broad questions
Total 30 pts 80 min

Final Exam
The final is worth 30 points and duration will be 80 minutes long.

Questions Points Time

Part I Multiple-choice
10 pts 10 min
(MCQs) questions
Part II Mix of short and
20 pts 70 min
broad questions
Total 30 pts 80 min

MAKE-UP EXAM
Absence from the class for any reason is not, by itself, considered justification for the ‘make-up’ of any
exam. You may be allowed to retake missed midterms in case of mitigating circumstances supported by
relevant documentation. In case of illness, Medical Certificate is necessary but may not be sufficient. No
make-up quiz will be taken.

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Academic Dishonesty
Cheating during the Quizzes or Exams is not acceptable. NSU is very strict about its academic
dishonesty policies, and the Instructor is obligated to report any case of violation.

Class-room Etiquette
The following is a list of suggestions to make our classroom experience as enjoyable and productive as
possible for all of us:
• Please turn off your mobile phone before class.
• If you need to use the restroom during class, please do so. However, please attempt to use the
restroom before class so that you do not disturb class proceedings when leaving / returning to
your seat or miss any class activities
• Unless you absolutely need to leave class before the period ends, please wait for me to dismiss
the class before packing up your books, etc.

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