Lesson 1 (9/9/14)

Today was my first lesson on microbiology. Even though I've learnt biology for 4 years, but the lesson today feels like very new to me. I only know the basics of microbiology, such as the names and characteristics of some popular microbes. When it comes to detailed morphology or further examples, I totally had no idea about it. This made me realised that my knowledge about microbiology is limited, and there is a completely vast microscopic world waiting for me to explore.

I felt glad to hear Dr. Wan's concept of learning. I do know that learning is not merely for passing the exams with flying colours. However, my way of learning so far has shaped me into a student that focuses only on exam marks. It is kind of exciting to know I can actually get fun learning new knowledge and being inspired here in university.

Lessons learnt :

1. Species of microbes :

• Deinococcus radiodurans (an extremophile) 
• Ebola
• Penicillin
• Basillus
• Escherchia coli
• Thiomargarita namibiensis
• Diatom algae

2. Terms in microbiology:

• Leeuwenhoek (Antoine van Leeuwenhoek)
• handcrafted microscope
• observed and described microbes (bacteria), muscle fibres, spermatozoa and blood in capillaries
• Louis Pasteur
• had discoveries in vaccination, microbial fermentation and pasteurization
• reduce mortality
• created vaccines for rabies and anthrax
• Anthrax 
• caused by Bacillus anthracis
• can form dormant endospores (survive in harsh conditions)
• spread by spores
• once used as biological weapons ; issues with use of anthrax powder (during First World War by Germans, by Japaneses ; during Second World War by U.K. ; Virulent "Ames strain" in 1950s ; during Gulf War by Iraq ; by Japan in 1990s)
• Sterilization & disinfectant (antiseptics)
• Sterilization (killing or removal of all microorganisms, including bacterial spores)
• Uses : for surgical procedures & in microbiological works (culture media, reagents and equipments)
• Disinfection (killing of many but not all microorganisms ; reduction of microbes so that will not cause infection)
• Sterilization by heat
• Microbial growth & culturing
• Epidemiology
• Microbiota

3. Use of Evernote, edmodo and padlet in learning.

2. Write an e-diary.