Presents four exercises on food fermentation. Discuses the principles and processes behind each fermentation reaction. (ASK)

The yeast "Saccharomyces cerevisiae" has been used by human beings since ancient times for its ability to convert sugar to alcohol. Continual exposure to glucose in the natural environment for innumerable generations has probably enabled "S. cerevisiae" to grow in fermentative mode on sugars by switching off the genes responsible for respiration…

This undergraduate laboratory experiment integrates multiple techniques ("in vitro" synthesis, enzyme assays, Western blotting) to determine the production and detection sensitivity of two common reporter proteins (beta-galactosidase and luciferase) within an "Escherichia coli" S30 transcription/translation extract. Comparison of the data suggests…

Virology is an integral part of introductory biology courses. Research and experience indicate that, although the topic is a difficult one for many students, the effectiveness of instruction is enhanced when assignments actively engage the students in the generation of scientific explanations. These authors have found that the methods and…

The Kirby-Bauer method is regularly used to test bacterial susceptibility to antibiotics, and is often employed in the classroom for teaching this concept. In this exercise, additional materials and instructions were given to students for the preparation of garlic extract and loading on blank BBL paper discs. They were further instructed to test…

The living component of soil is difficult for students to learn about and understand because students have difficulty relating to things they cannot see (beyond sight, beyond mind). Line drawings from textbooks help explain conceptual relationships but do little to stimulate an active interest in the living component of soil. Alternatively,…

This book is a joint publication of the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) and the Society of Protozoologists and is the result of efforts to find a way in which protozoa research can be used to teach biology. This program puts cutting edge science into the hands of science teachers and enables students to experience a variety of…

Outlines safe laboratory procedures for the handling of micro-organisms including aseptic technique, manipulation of cultures, and treatment of contaminated equipment. Identifies the principal hazard as the microbial aerosol, explains its possible effects, and describes the appropriate precautions. (GS)

This document is an instructional module package prepared in objective form for use by an instructor familiar with the basic concepts of biology related to water/wastewater technology. Included are objectives, instructor guides, student handouts, and transparency masters. The module considers organisms and their relationship, cell structures,…

Describes an experiment that illustrates the use of the preparative ultracentrifuge in isolating and purifying bacterial ribosomes, determines the sedimentation coefficients of the ribonucleoprotein particles, and demonstrates the subunit structure of the 70-S ribosome and the role of the magnesium ion in the association of subunits. (Author/GS)

Describes a course designed to teach the fundamental microbiological principles common to all disciplines. The course is designed to meet individual student needs through self-directed lab work and various minicourses on topics in applied microbiology. (GS)