Introduction to Microbiology Practical Manual

The practical component of MIC60104: - Introduction to Microbiology aims to teach techniques for handling, culturing, and observing microbes.

The practical component consists of laboratory sessions that take approximately 12 hours of class time per semester.

Attendance at all laboratory sessions for MIC60104 is mandatory. Missing a session will result in a penalty.

The laboratory program aims to develop students' abilities like working independently, working in teams, handling microbes safely, following lab protocols, presenting data, writing scientific reports, identifying microbial structures, performing aseptic techniques, and identifying microbes through biochemical tests and media use.

The laboratory program emphasizes the importance of safe handling of microorganisms during experiments, a crucial aspect in microbiology.

Students will be expected to work independently and responsibly in the laboratory, developing essential self-sufficiency in conducting experiments.

Students will be required to work effectively within small teams during laboratory experiments, learning valuable collaborative skills.

The laboratory program stresses the importance of presenting experimental data in a clear and professional manner, using graphical or tabular formats.

Using someone else's work without giving them credit.

Presenting someone else's words, ideas, or work as your own, even with slight changes.

Copying text from an online source without citing the original author or webpage.

Using another student's work without their permission or proper citation.

A formal process to investigate potential plagiarism.

Software that helps identify potential plagiarism instances in submitted work.

Acknowledging the source of information or ideas used in your work.

Working together with others on a task, but ensuring each member contributes and acknowledges their role.

A part of the microscope that holds the microscope slide in place using a spring-loaded finger.

A system of lenses located beneath the stage that concentrates light onto the specimen.

A part of the sub-stage condenser that controls the amount of light passing through the specimen by adjusting the width of the light beam.

A control that allows you to adjust the brightness of the light source.

Always use two hands to carry the microscope: one holding the arm and the other supporting the base.

Clean the lenses before and after each use to avoid contamination and damage. Use only a special cleaning paper. Never use facial tissues.

Never remove any part of the microscope without consulting your tutor.

When using oil immersion lens (x100), ensure it's the correct lens and always clean it after use.

Rod-shaped bacteria that form chains.

A type of bacteria with a curved rod shape.

Single-celled, oval-shaped fungi that reproduce by budding.

Filamentous fungi with septate hyphae, forming conidia at the tips of conidiophores.

Gram-positive bacteria that stain purple with crystal violet and methylene blue.

Gram-negative bacteria that do not retain the purple stain in the Gram staining procedure. They appear pink after counterstaining with safranin.

Filamentous bacteria with branched structures resembling fungi.

A staining technique that uses crystal violet and methylene blue to differentiate bacteria based on their cell wall structure.

A microscope that utilizes light and an objective lens to magnify and illuminate a specimen.

Adjustment knobs used to precisely focus on a specimen, providing a clear and sharp image.

A lever that locks the coarse focus adjustment knob in place, preventing accidental movement while changing objectives.

A type of microscopy that enhances the contrast of unstained specimens by emphasizing differences in refractive index, making details more visible.

A circular ring in the condenser that directs a specific beam of light towards the specimen, crucial for phase contrast microscopy.

The ability to distinguish between two closely spaced objects as separate entities.

A numerical value that represents the resolving power of a microscope lens, indicating its ability to distinguish fine details.

A technique used in microscopy where the specimen is illuminated from the side, causing light to scatter off the specimen, resulting in a bright image against a dark background.

A method of preparing a sample for microscopic examination that involves spreading a thin layer of microbial cells onto a slide, fixing them to the slide using heat, and staining them to enhance visibility.

A simple method of preparing a sample for microscopic examination where a specimen is suspended in a drop of liquid on a slide and covered with a coverslip.

A method of microscopy where a special objective lens called the oil immersion lens is used with oil between the lens and the specimen to improve resolution and clarity. The oil has the same refractive index as glass, reducing light scattering.

A technique used to identify the specific shape and arrangement of bacterial cells.

The process of applying heat to a dried microbial smear on a glass slide, which helps to fix the cells to the slide and prevent them from being washed away during staining.

A microscopic technique used to highlight the contours and outlines of microbial cells by using a staining technique that colors the background but not the cells. This makes the microbes appear brighter against a dark background.