ESM236

Environmental Microbiology

Sciences
200 level
2 credit units
232 pages
14 units

This course introduces students to the fascinating world of environmental microbiology. It explores the diverse roles of microorganisms in various environments, including air, water, and soil. The course delves into biogeochemical cycles, emphasizing the importance of nutrient recycling. Students will learn about microbial structures, reproduction, and interactions, as well as methods for isolating and controlling microorganisms. The course aims to equip students with a comprehensive understanding of microbial ecology and its impact on environmental health.

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About this course

Difficulty: Intermediate
Study hours: 208 hours
Maths: None
Content: Theoretical, practical, case study
Practical work: Yes

How it is assessed

Assignments
Tutor Marked Assignments
Final Examination

What you'll read

The real module and unit structure of ESM236, taken from the course material NOUN publishes.

Module 1

Module 2 · STRUCTURE, REPRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE OF MICRO-ORGANISMS

Module 3 · INTERACTIONS AND CONTROL OF MICRO-ORGANISMS

One paragraph, so you can see how it reads

ESM236 · UNIT 2: BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES

Ecosystems are organised into various biological levels. The biosphere is the region of the earth inhabited by living organisms. It consists of the hydrosphere (earths water supply), the lithosphere (the soil and rock that include the earth crusts and the atmosphere, the gaseous envelope surrounding the earth.

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What you should be able to do

Describe the major groups of microorganisms and their characteristics
Explain the roles of microorganisms in biogeochemical cycles
Apply methods for isolating and identifying microorganisms
Discuss the principles of sterilization and disinfection
Explain the immune response to microbial infections

What it prepares you for

Careers

Environmental Scientist
Microbiologist
Public Health Officer
Laboratory Technician
Quality Control Analyst

Where it is applied

Healthcare
Agriculture
Environmental Management
Food Industry
Pharmaceuticals

Tools

Microscopes
Autoclaves
Spectrophotometers
PCR Machines
Filtration Systems

Where it gets hard

The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.

Module 2: Structure, Reproduction and Importance of Micro-Organisms
Unit 6: Structure and Reproduction: The Viruses
Understanding the complex processes of viral replication, including reverse transcription and integration into the host genome, requires a strong foundation in molecular biology.
Module 3: Interactions and Control of Micro-organisms
Unit 1: Antigens and Antibodies
Understanding the complement system and its various pathways, along with the specific functions of each complement protein, requires memorization and comprehension of complex biochemical processes.

A suggested way through it

Suggested

13 weeks, about 42 hours in total. Yours will differ.

Week 1Module 1: Environments and Micro-organisms
- Unit 1: Environment and Ecology of Micro-organisms · 3 hours
  Define the biosphere and its components.. Distinguish between various environments and their characteristics.. Explain the ecology of life and energy flow in ecosystems..
Week 2Module 1: Environments and Micro-organisms
- Unit 2: Biogeochemical Cycles · 3 hours
  Describe the types of microorganisms found in air, water, and soil.. Explain the roles of microorganisms in different environments.. Identify methods for determining microorganisms in the air..
Week 3Module 1: Environments and Micro-organisms
- Unit 3: Characteristics of Micro-organisms · 3 hours
  Describe the various biogeochemical cycles.. Explain the roles of microorganisms in the biosphere.. Discuss the importance of biogeochemical cycles for plants and animals..
Week 4Module 1: Environments and Micro-organisms
- Unit 4: Isolation of Micro-organisms · 3 hours
  Discuss the characteristics of viruses, fungi, bacteria, and algae.. Compare and contrast viruses and microorganisms.. Differentiate between prokaryotes and eukaryotes..
Week 5Module 2: Structure, Reproduction and Importance of Micro-Organisms
- Unit 1: Structure of Micro-organisms: The Fungi · 3 hours
  Describe the methods of isolation of microorganisms in pure cultures.. Discuss the advantages of each isolation technique.. Describe methods for maintenance and preservation of pure cultures..
Week 6Module 2: Structure, Reproduction and Importance of Micro-Organisms
- Unit 2: Reproduction in Micro-organisms: The Fungi · 3 hours
  Explain the basic structure of fungi.. Distinguish between vegetative and reproductive structures.. Discuss the diversity and complexity of fungal structures..
Week 7Module 2: Structure, Reproduction and Importance of Micro-Organisms
- Unit 3: Importance of Micro-organisms: The Fungi · 3 hours
  Explain the processes leading to various types of reproduction in fungi.. Differentiate between asexual and sexual reproduction.. Discuss the types of asexual and sexual reproduction..
Week 8Module 2: Structure, Reproduction and Importance of Micro-Organisms
- Unit 4: Structure and Reproduction: The Bacteria · 3 hours
  Discuss the beneficial effects of fungi to man, animals, and plants.. List the harmful effects of fungi to man, animals, and plants.. List the effects on industries, food, and agriculture..
Week 9Module 2: Structure, Reproduction and Importance of Micro-Organisms
- Unit 5: Importance of Micro-organisms: The Bacteria · 3 hours
  Explain the typical structure of bacteria.. Describe the different morphological types of bacteria.. Identify extracellular structures..
Week 10Module 2: Structure, Reproduction and Importance of Micro-Organisms
- Unit 6: Structure and Reproduction: The Viruses · 3 hours
  Discuss the beneficial effects of bacteria in the environment, industries, medicine, and agriculture.. Discuss the harmful effects of bacteria on plants and human lives..
Week 11Module 2: Structure, Reproduction and Importance of Micro-Organisms
- Unit 7: Importance of Micro-organisms: The Viruses · 3 hours
  Describe the nature and structures of viruses.. Explain the various types of viruses.. Describe the various steps in the reproduction (replication) of viruses..
Week 12Module 2: Structure, Reproduction and Importance of Micro-Organisms
- Unit 8: Structure, Reproduction and Importance of Microorganism: The Algae · 3 hours
  Explain the importance of viruses to life.. Discuss their impact on human life.. Explain the importance of viruses on plants..
Week 13Module 3: Interactions and Control of Micro-organisms
- Unit 1: Antigens and Antibodies · 3 hours
  Describe the characteristics of algae.. Discuss the structures existing among the algae.. List the criteria used in classifying the algae.. Discuss the economic importance of algae..
- Unit 3: Disinfection · 3 hours
  Define immunity, antigens, antibodies, serology and immunology.. Explain the differences between innate and acquired immunity.. Explain the differences between cell-mediated immunity and humoral immunity..

Preparing for the exam

What to do

Create detailed concept maps linking microbial structures to their functions (Units 1-2).
Practice identifying microorganisms based on their characteristics and staining results (Units 3-5).
Review the steps involved in different sterilization and disinfection methods (Units 13).
Focus on understanding the key components of the immune system and antigen-antibody interactions (Units 13).
Use flashcards to memorize the different types of microorganisms and their roles in various environments (Units 1-12).

Questions students ask about this course

What is ESM236 about?

How many units does ESM236 have?

ESM236, Environmental Microbiology, has 14 units across 3 modules, over 232 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.

How many credit units is ESM236?

ESM236 carries 2 credit units, at 200 level in Sciences.

Is ESM236 hard?

ESM236 is rated intermediate level, with no mathematical content. It is mostly theoretical, practical and case study work, and it has a practical component.

How long does ESM236 take to study?

About 208 hours of study, spread across its 14 units.

How is ESM236 assessed?

ESM236 is assessed by Assignments, Tutor Marked Assignments and Final Examination.

What can I do with ESM236?

Environmental Scientist, Microbiologist, Public Health Officer, Laboratory Technician and Quality Control Analyst.