Microbiology
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​All of the modules below are required for Microbiology as a major for the BSc degree
​Module code​Credits​Module Name​Teaching Load
214​16​Introductory Microbiology​3L, 3P
History, microscopy, classification, structure and function, nutritional requirements and growth factors, nutrient uptake, energy generation, culture media, growth curves, yields and effect of nutrient limitation, continuous culture, physical and chemical control, environmental factors, antimicrobial therapy.

Prerequisite pass modules:
  • Biology 124 or 144
  • Chemistry 124, 144
244​16​Microbial Diversity​3L, 3P
Prokaryotes, kingdoms of life and modern classification, Archaeal cell structure and function, Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria, actinomycetes, cyanobacteria. Fungal divisions, cell structure and function. Structure of viruses and virus taxonomy, bacteriophages, human viruses. Microbiology of air, water and soil environments, different metabolic types of micro-organisms, the role of micro-organisms in biogeochemical cycles and energy flow in the food web, the dependence of animals and plants on micro-organisms, including symbiotic associations, microbe-plant associations and microbe-insect associations, interactions between micro-organisms.

Prerequisite pass modules: 
  • Biology 124 or 144
​314​16​Microbial Molecular Biology​3L, 3P
Genome organisation of prokaryotes versus eukaryotes, advanced aspects of DNA replication in bacteria e.g. multiple replication forks and genome segregation, advanced aspects of transcription and translation using Escherichia coli (bacterium) and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (yeast) as model organisms, principles of gene regulation from single gene to global regulation levels, including operons, regulons, networks and signal transduction in bacteria, production of industrially important heterologous proteins in yeast, key concepts of yeast recombinant DNA technology.

Prerequisite pass module: Microbiology 214 
Prerequisite modules: 
  • Microbiology 244
  • Biochemistry 214, 244
324​16Microbial Physiology and Metabolism​3L, 3P
Elemental composition, carbon and energy flows, oxidation-reduction reactions, energy production through fermentation, respiration and photosynthesis, variety of molecules used as electron donors and acceptors and the micro-organisms involved, membrane transport, chemotaxis, sources and assimilation of nitrogen, sulphate and phosphate, assimilation of carbon dioxide, biosynthesis of amino acids and other monomers, application of metabolism to industrial processes, Pasteur and Crabtree effects, iron-oxidising bacteria and bio-mining.

Prerequisite pass module: Microbiology 214 
Prerequisite modules: 
  • Microbiology 244
  • Biochemistry 214, 244
354​16Industrial Microbiology​​3L, 3P​​
Food fermentations, traditional microbial processes: beer, wine, bread, cheese, yoghurt, salami, etc. Specialised food fermentations, e.g. biological preservatives, preparation and the role of micro-organisms. Introduction to microbial fermentations, batch, continuous and fed-batch fermentations, mono-culture versus mix culture fermentations, scaling-up of microbial fermentations. Quality control measures: HACCP, ISO 9000, etc. The occurrence of pathogens and food-spoiling bacteria and their control. Industrial production of non-food products: selected examples of industrial production of enzymes, overproduction of citric acid and lysine, antibiotics, pharmaceutical products, influence of substrate on production levels.

Prerequisite pass module: Microbiology 214 
Prerequisite module: Microbiology 244
364​16Microbial Ecology​​​3L, 3P​​
Introduction to environmental microbiology, overview of microbial environments, including earth, aquatic and extreme niches, role of microorganisms in biogeochemical cycling, microbial communication and interactions, application of microbes in environmental and industrial remediation, sewage water, industrial wastewater and drinking water treatment, detection, enumeration and identifications of microorganisms.

Method of assessment: Flexible assessment
Prerequisite pass module: Microbiology 214 
Prerequisite module: Microbiology 244

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