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MMG 425 Microbial Ecology E. Bruger, J. Guo
MMG 425 – Course Syllabus
MICROBIAL ECOLOGY
(3 credits) – Fall 2015
Prerequisites: MMG 301 (Introductory Microbiology)
Course Description: Microbial ecology is the study of microbes in the environment and their
interactions with each other. It is also a vast and rapidly evolving area. Microbes are the tiniest
creatures on Earth, yet despite their small size, they have a huge impact on us and on our environment.
MMG 425 will provide students with information and training about microbial diversity, interactions,
ecology and evolution, including roles in bioremediation, recycling, food production and biotechnology
(for more background, also see http://www.isme-microbes.org/whatis/topics). This is intended as an
upper level undergraduate course for students interested in the topic, particularly those in Microbiology
and related biology majors. MMG 301 is required as background for this course, as everything
discussed during this semester will build upon material from that course.
Class Meetings: Monday and Wednesday, 12:40 pm – 2:00 pm,
1420 Biomedical Physical Sciences (BPS) Building
Instructors: Eric Bruger, 5191 BPS Building (brugerer@msu.edu)
Jiarong Guo, 2225A BPS Building (guojiaro@msu.edu)
Office Hours: Wednesday at 3:00 – 4:30 pm, 2245 BPS Building. Instructors may be available to
schedule alternative appointment, but you are strongly encouraged to first attend the scheduled office
hour time to seek help.
Textbook: There is no required textbook. Good recommended source materials include Brock Biology
of Microorganisms (now in Volume 14) and Microbial Ecology (by Larry L. Barton and Diana E.
Northup). Readings will be assigned, either online (mostly) or on reserve in the library. Additionally,
relevant materials will be included in the course pack, available for purchase at the campus bookstore,
and also available individually on the D2L site.
Attendance: Students whose names do not appear on the official class list for this course may not
attend this class, unless confirmed with the instructor. Participation is a significant portion of this
course, and students are expected to attend all class sessions.
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MMG 425 Microbial Ecology E. Bruger, J. Guo
Learning Objectives: Upon completing this course, students will be able to:
1. Understand basic concepts within the field of microbial ecology and environmental microbiology.
2. Interpret the various ecological and evolutionary principles that impact microbes.
3. Analyze and design experimental approaches used in the field of microbial ecology.
4. Grasp how research in microbial ecology is conducted.
5. Gain detailed knowledge about a specific aspect of the microbial ecology chosen for project/report.
6. Recognize functional ubiquity and diversity observed among different microbes.
7. Critique arguments that researchers in microbial ecology make based on evidence.
8. Critically read and write on topics related to microbial ecology.
Grading Policy: Cumulative scores are based on the percentages of various work assigned throughout
the semester (see below).
Graded Item Percentage of final grade
Homework 10
In-class participation activities 15
Term Paper Project 15
Exam 1 20
Exam 2 20
Exam 3 20
Total 100
Homework items will be submitted via a Dropbox accessible on the D2L site, due by dates
specified online. In-class points will consist of student responses to iClicker questions and
short answer questions collected in class, and periodic quizzes may also be administered during
class time.
Clicker questions will be asked randomly during lectures. To register your iClicker for the
course, go to http://www.iclicker.com/registration. You will need to enter your first name, last
name, student ID (= your D2L username), and your iClicker ID (located on the bottom of the
back of your iClicker). If your iClicker ID is illegible, go to
http://www.iclicker.com/support/findclickerID/ or come see an instructor after class to recover
your iClicker ID. You must have come to class and voted on at least one question to complete
the registration properly. Your iClicker participation will start counting on Monday September
14th.
Quiz questions will be related to materials from the current topic unit being covered in class.
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MMG 425 Microbial Ecology E. Bruger, J. Guo
Exams: Exam dates are Monday, October 5 and Monday, November 9, at the regularly
scheduled course time and location (during class). A final exam time is scheduled for Tuesday,
December 15 at 12:45 – 2:45 pm in the normal course location. Although material from the
course will build upon that previously covered, each exam will only cover material introduced
since the previous exam (i.e. not cumulative). There is no option to drop any of the exams.
Term Paper: Term papers are a great opportunity to dig deeply into the scientific literature on a
single topic. As such, you will pick a topic relevant to microbial ecology, to be verified with the
instructors, and write a paper focused on this topic. When you have written this paper, you will
likely know much more about the subject than does the instructors or your classmates. The
paper is to be between 10 and 20 pages, double spaced, 12 point font with 1 inch margins. This
length does not include the References Cited section. To help keep you moving on the paper
throughout the semester, a 2 page outline with at least 5 references is due on Oct 12th, and a
complete first draft of your paper is due on Nov 16th. In addition to written feedback on your
outline and draft, you will meet with the instructors to discuss strategies toward improving your
paper for the final submission. You will then revise and resubmit on Dec 9th. Please note that
“first draft” does NOT translate to “rough draft” in the sense of an unpolished manuscript. Your
first draft should be your best work; make sure to ask a friend to read the draft to help you
correct typos, organizational issues and grammar BEFORE you turn it in. Sloppy work will be
penalized, and well-organized, well-written and well-edited first drafts will be rewarded. Your
paper should read like a review article in a scientific journal. Your paper will receive scores in
each of these areas: 1) novelty and creativity of the ideas, 2) clarity and precision of the writing,
3) organization, 4) depth and breadth of library research, and 5) soundness of the scientific
logic. We will provide a handout with more detailed instructions on how to write your term
Grades
Percentage of total points earned Grade Assigned
91 – 100 4.0
86 – 90 3.5
81 – 85 3.0
76 – 80 2.5
71 – 75 2.0
66 – 70 1.5
60 – 65 1.0
0 – 59 0.0
Make-up Policy:
Makeups will not be available for quizzes; however, students will have the option of dropping one their
quiz scores. The only acceptable reasons for missing an exam will be personal illness, a personal or
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MMG 425 Microbial Ecology E. Bruger, J. Guo
family emergency, a pre-scheduled interview for a job or admission into a professional or graduate
program, as well as travel required of MSU team members to university-sanctioned competitions. In
such an event, the instructor should be contacted with the appropriate documentation before a
scheduled mid-term or final examination, if possible. Once a test has been started then no make-up
exam will be given. Illness should be documented with a doctor's certificate, whereas other appropriate
documentation must be provided in the case of an emergency, interview or major competition.
IMPORTANT: Participation in club activities and competitions do NOT qualify as excuses!
It is the responsibility of the student to contact the instructor for the scheduling and administration
of an appropriate make-up mid-term or final examination.
UNIVERSITY REGULATIONS STATE CLEARLY THAT THE SCHEDULING OF TRIPS
PRIOR TO OR ON THE DATE OF THE FINAL EXAMINATION IS NOT AN EXCUSE FOR
REQUESTING AN EARLY OR LATE EXAMINATION.
Academic Honesty:
All students in MMG 425 must adhere principles of professional ethics. Disciplinary action will result
in the event of unethical behavior, which includes (not limited to) cheating during exams, supplying
information to other students during exams and quizzes, copying of homework, and plagiarism on
reports and written assignments.
Article 2.III.B.2 of the Student Rights and Responsibilites (SRR) states that "The student shares with
the faculty the responsibility for maintaining the integrity of scholarship, grades, and professional
standards." In addition, the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics adheres to the policies
on academic honesty as specified in General Student Regulations 1.0, Protection of Scholarship and
Grades; the all-University Policy on Integrity of Scholarship and Grades; and Ordinance 17.00,
Examinations. (See Spartan Life: Student Handbook and Resource Guide and/or the MSU Web
site: www.msu.edu.)
Therefore, unless authorized by your instructor, you are expected to complete all course assignments,
including homework, lab work, quizzes, tests and exams, without assistance from any source. You are
expected to develop original work for this course; therefore, you may not submit course work you
completed for another course to satisfy the requirements for this course. Also, you are not authorized to
use the www.allmsu.com Web site to complete any course work in this course. Students who violate
MSU academic integrity rules may receive a penalty grade, including a failing grade on the assignment
or in the course. Contact your instructor if you are unsure about the appropriateness of your course
work. (See also the Academic Integrity webpage.)
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