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MICRB 201: Introductory Microbiology

Penn State Berks' MICRB 201 taught by Dr. Jill Felker

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E. coli

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romaine lettuce

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brain eating amoeba

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Naegleria fowleri

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Cordyceps

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herbal drug

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"Kirby-Bauer Test"

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Helpful science / biology publications

Finding reliable, non-scholarly scientific information can be difficult. Knowing where to start can be a huge help in conducting research when you are a novice. Below are several popular, reputable science publications that can be helpful for staying up to date and developing topics! These sources will be easier to understand than scholarly articles while still providing you with authoritative information.

 

American Scientist    print available in Thun Library's First Draft Collection


Helpful Databases


Evaluating science reporting

Primary Research Articles vs. Review Articles - How can I tell the difference?

Differentiating between original research articles and review articles can be a bit tricky.  Both types of articles are considered "scholarly" and appear in peer reviewed journals.  However, it is an essential skill in the sciences to be able to differentiate between the two types of articles.  In this class, you will need to find review articles.  Below is information to assist you in determining what type of resource you are viewing. 

 

Characteristics

Examples

Research Article

Author(s) present new set of findings from original research after conducting an original experiment.

Typically contains the following distinct sections: 

  • Methods (possibly the variation Methods & Materials) 
  • Results (including charts, graphs, and statistical tables)
  • Discussion
Davenport, E. E., Burnham, K. L., Radhakrishnan, J., Humburg, P., Hutton, P., Mills, T. C., Rautanen, A., Gordon, A. C., Garrard, C., Hill, A. V. S., Hinds, C. J., & Knight, J. C. (2016). Genomic landscape of the individual host response and outcomes in sepsis: A prospective cohort study. The Lancet, 4(4), 259-271. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2213-2600(16)00046-1

Review Article

Author(s) analyze and summarize existing research.

Often focus on a general topic and bring together all relevant, useful articles on that topic in one article.

Do not contain sections such as Methods or Results because they did not conduct original research.

References within a review article can help you locate primary research articles on a topic!

Wang, W., & Liu, C. F. (2023). Sepsis heterogeneity. World Journal of Pediatrics, 19(10), 919-927. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12519-023-00689-8

 

How to Read & Use Scholarly Scientific Articles

Intimidated and frustrated by that 15 page scientific article?  Use the links below to learn how to navigate scientific journal articles.