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Unit of study_
MICR2931: Microbiology (Advanced)
2025 unit information
Microbes are essential for every aspect of life on the planet. Microbes in the human gut control our digestion and our immune system, microbes in the soil are required for plant growth, microbes in the ocean fix more carbon dioxide than all the Earth's trees. In this unit of study you will investigate the diversity and activity of microorganisms - viruses, bacteria, fungi, algae and protozoa - and look at how they interact with us, each other, plants and animals. You will examine how microbes underpin healthy ecosystems through nutrient cycling and biodegradation, their use industrially in biotechnology and food production, and their ability to cause harm, producing disease, poisoning, pollution and spoilage. Detailed aspects of microbial ecology, nutrition, physiology and genetics will also be introduced. This unit of study will provide you with the breadth of knowledge and skills needed for further studies of microbiology, and will provide the fundamental understanding of microbes that you will require to specialise in related fields such as biochemistry, molecular biology, immunology, agriculture, nutrition and food sciences, bioengineering and biotechnology, ecology, or science education. As an Advanced unit, MICR2931 provides increased challenge and academic rigour to develop a greater understanding and depth of disciplinary expertise. You will actively participate in a series of small group tutorials investigating the molecular detail of microbial communication and function, which will culminate in you creating a scientific research report that communicates your understanding of recent research in microbiology.
Unit details and rules
Managing faculty or University school:
Science
| Study level | Undergraduate |
|---|---|
| Academic unit | Life and Environmental Sciences Academic Operations |
| Credit points | 6 |
|
Prerequisites:
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A mark of 65 or above in (BIOL1XXX or MBLG1XXX) |
|---|---|
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Corequisites:
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None |
| Prohibitions:
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MICR2021 or MICR2921 or MICR2024 or MICR2031 |
| Assumed knowledge:
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Fundamental concepts of microorganisms, biomolecules and ecosystems; CHEM1XX1 |
At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:
- LO1. use aseptic technique to isolate and grow microorganisms into pure culture
- LO2. employ safe techniques for manipulating microbes in the laboratory, core skills of aseptic technique, and how to grow, enumerate and observe microbes macroscopically and microscopically
- LO3. describe the special features of microbial biology that explain their ubiquity
- LO4. identify and describe the principles of microbial identification, diversity, evolution and phylogeny
- LO5. apply knowledge of the biology, diversity and ecology of microorganisms to evaluate real-world situations
- LO6. apply rational, independent and critical thought to the diagnosis of microbial disease
- LO7. appraise microbiology in natural resource management, food security and global change
- LO8. critically evaluate the importance of microbes in our society and their roles in both harmful and helpful processes
- LO9. gather, record, synthesise and interpret data from experimental microbiology
- LO10. communicate your knowledge of microbiology using oral, visual and written formats.
Unit availability
This section lists the session, attendance modes and locations the unit is available in. There is a unit outline for each of the unit availabilities, which gives you information about the unit including assessment details and a schedule of weekly activities.
The outline is published 2 weeks before the first day of teaching. You can look at previous outlines for a guide to the details of a unit.
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Modes of attendance (MoA)
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