Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Organised by
Nanyang Polytechnic &
Singapore Society for Microbiology & Biotechnology (SSMB)
Classification of microorganisms
The five kingdoms system and the three domains. Scientific nomenclature. The taxonomic hierarchy.
A phylogenetic hierarchy. Classification of bacteria under class, family, genus and species.
media for microbial growth. Define bacterial growth curve and the direct measurement of bacterial
growth.
Culture media
Distinguish between chemically defined and complex media. Justify the use of anaerobic techniques,
selective media, differential media and enrichment media. Culture techniques, streaking and
spreading of plate. Preserving bacteria culture techniques.
The requirements for growth
Physical requirements: temperature, pH and osmotic pressure. Chemical requirements. The effect of
oxygen on aerobes and anaerobes.
Microbial growth
Bacteria division. Generation time. Bacteria growth curve. Phases of growth. Direct measurement of
microbial growth. How to do a plate counts. The most probable number method. Direct microscopic
count. Estimating bacterial numbers by indirect methods.
Microbial metabolism
Define metabolism. Differences between anabolism and catabolism. Identify ATP as the
intermediate between catabolism and anabolism. Major microbial metabolic pathways:
carbohydrate catabolism, anaerobic respiration, fermentation, lipid catabolism and photosynthesis.
Metabolic diversity among organisms: photoautotroph, photoheterotroph, chemoautotroph and
chemoheterotroph.
Virology
Mammalian viruses. Structure, morphology, physiology and classification.
Diseases and symptoms caused by virus in human.
Mycology
Structure, morphology, physiology and classification. Uses and diseases.
Parasitology
Structure, morphology, physiology and classification. Diseases and symptoms in human caused by
parasites.
Phycology
Structure, morphology, physiology and classification