Microbiology Experiments: A Health Science Perspective

Kleyn−Bicknell: Microbiology Experiments: A Health Science Perspective, 4/e Front Matter © The McGraw−Hill Companies, 2003 Preface Preface To the Student A microbiology laboratory is valuable because it actually gives you a chance to see and study microorganisms firsthand. In addition, it provides you with the opportunity to learn the special techniques used to study and identify these organisms. The ability to make observations, record data, and analyze results is useful throughout life. It is very important to read the scheduled exercises before coming to class, so that class time can be used efficiently. It is helpful to ask yourself the purpose of each step as you are reading and carrying out the steps of the experiment. Sometimes it will be necessary to read an exercise several times before it makes sense. Conducting experiments in microbiology laboratories is particularly gratifying because the results can be seen in a day or two (as opposed, for instance, to plant genetics laboratories). Opening the incubator door to see how your cultures have grown and how the experiment has turned out is a pleasurable moment. We hope you will enjoy your experience with microorganisms as well as acquire skills and understanding that will be valuable in the future. To the Instructor The manual includes a wide range of exercises— some more difficult and time-consuming than others. Usually more than one exercise can be done in a two-hour laboratory period. In these classes, students can actually see the applications of the principles they have learned in the lectures and text. We have tried to integrate the manual with the text Microbiology: A Human Perspective, Fourth Edit