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General
information:
Laboratory exercises are an important
part of general microbiology. Hands-on experience provides
a better understanding of microbiology and also provides you
with some marketable skills down the road. Good lab technique
combines manual dexterity and common sense, both necessary
for success in graduate and professional schools. Attendance
and cooperation are all a part of your lab grade.
Students either
work alone in lab or in groups of three to four. Most lab
exercises require the full lab period for completion, though
preparedness and organization generally speed completion.
Students are expected to carefully read the lab exercise prior
to attending lab and are expected to clean up after themselves
before leaving.
Attendance:
Lab exercises require
you to be present to get credit. Students are expected to be present in
their scheduled lab groups at the appointed times. All absences from lab
require written (or e-mail) notification of your TA, at least 1 week prior
to known absences, unless an emergency. Students are responsible for making
sure any assignments due during a missed lab session are turned in on time.
If you are unable attend due to illness or unforseen circumstances
(such as sleeping in), you are required to turn in a short 1-page essay on
the lab you missed. This essay will negate your absence which affects your
attendance and participation grade, but not any missed quizzes (i.e., you
will receive a zero for any quiz that day).
Promptness:
Do not be late! It is disruptive and inconsiderate to arrive after everyone
has started. It can also adversely affect your grade, as quizzes
missed due to tardiness cannot be made up.
Make-up policy:
Students may not switch lab periods to make up absences without prior arrangement. If possible, your TA should be notified of your absence ahead of time (1 week), and should always be informed after a missed lab as to whether you made up the missed material.
Students are responsible for requesting permission to attend another TA's lab section. This must be done ahead of time, preferably via e-mail, so the TA and lab staff can prepare for an extra student. Most lab sections are filled to capacity, and adding additional students may be difficult. Because of this, TAs are not required to accept extra students who appear unannounced to their lab section.
Students are responsible for material covered in missed labs, regardless of whether the absence was excused or unexcused and regardless of whether the lab was made up. Students missing labs (without makeup) are required to write a short 1-page essay on the lab missed. This essay will negate your absence which affects your attendance and participation grade, but not any missed quizzes (i.e., you will receive a zero for any quiz that day).
Safety Issues:
The daily activities of the average student are a greater
threat to personal health than attending the introductory microbiology
laboratory. Although virulent cultures are generally not used
in lab, many of the organisms used are considered opportunistic
pathogens or pathogenic (over 50 %), causing disease if mishandled.
Please handle all cultures with care and respect. Take time
to read the safety procedures outlined in your lab manual, which
are designed for your protection. Always wear a lab coat
in the lab, avoid touching your face and mouth during lab, and
wash your hands prior to leaving. Never bring food or drink
into the lab. If you are sick or are concerned about your immune
system, be overly cautious and wear gloves. If you have any
further immune system concerns, please see our home
page for more information regarding your health.
If you have a cut on your hand, wear gloves. Consult your lab
manual for known opportunistic and pathogenic species.
Lab coats:
Each student is required to have a lab coat or apron, to be used and stored only in the lab. Hangers or lockers are provided in the lab for this purpose. Regular use of a lab coat prevents spread of microbes outside the lab, and reduces the chance of staining one's clothes. Most stains used are difficult to remove from clothing and skin. Lab coats may be purchased at the Med Center's bookstore, uniform stores, surplus stores, etc.
Students who are financially unable to purchase a lab coat should contact the lab administrator.
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