uwloo

BIOL 240LMicrobiology Laboratory

Units
0.25
Faculty
Science
Subject
Biology

When it runs

  1. F24
  2. W25
  3. S25
  4. F25
  5. W26
  6. S26
  7. F26
  8. W27
  9. S27

Ran in 5 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: not on the schedule. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.

Experiments to study the principles of microbiology that are elaborated in BIOL 240.

Prerequisites

None listed.

Corequisites

  • Complete 1 of the following
    • Completed or concurrently enrolled in:
      • BIOL240 - Fundamentals of Microbiology (0.50)
    • Completed or concurrently enrolled in:
      • BIOL140

Antirequisites

None listed.

Leads to

Fall 2026 sections

Enrolment from UW Open Data, which can trail Quest by up to two days. Instructors and rooms: Schedule of Classes.
SectionClassEnrolledMeets
LAB 001709130 / 32Sep 14 14:30–17:20
Sep 28 14:30–17:20
Oct 19 14:30–17:20
Nov 2 14:30–17:20
Nov 16 14:30–17:20
Nov 30 14:30–15:50
LAB 002709232 / 32Sep 14 14:30–17:20
Sep 28 14:30–17:20
Oct 19 14:30–17:20
Nov 2 14:30–17:20
Nov 16 14:30–17:20
Nov 30 14:30–15:50
LAB 003709327 / 32Sep 15 09:30–12:20
Sep 29 09:30–12:20
Oct 20 09:30–12:20
Nov 3 09:30–12:20
Nov 17 09:30–12:20
Dec 1 09:30–10:50
LAB 004709429 / 32Sep 15 09:30–12:20
Sep 29 09:30–12:20
Oct 20 09:30–12:20
Nov 3 09:30–12:20
Nov 17 09:30–12:20
Dec 1 09:30–10:50
LAB 005709528 / 32Sep 15 14:30–17:20
Sep 29 14:30–17:20
Oct 20 14:30–17:20
Nov 3 14:30–17:20
Nov 17 14:30–17:20
Dec 1 14:30–15:50
LAB 006709629 / 32Sep 15 14:30–17:20
Sep 29 14:30–17:20
Oct 20 14:30–17:20
Nov 3 14:30–17:20
Nov 17 14:30–17:20
Dec 1 14:30–15:50
LAB 007709730 / 32Sep 16 14:30–17:20
Sep 30 14:30–17:20
Oct 21 14:30–17:20
Nov 4 14:30–17:20
Nov 18 14:30–17:20
Dec 2 14:30–15:50
LAB 008709831 / 32Sep 16 14:30–17:20
Sep 30 14:30–17:20
Oct 21 14:30–17:20
Nov 4 14:30–17:20
Nov 18 14:30–17:20
Dec 2 14:30–15:50
LAB 009709929 / 30Sep 17 14:30–17:20
Oct 1 14:30–17:20
Oct 22 14:30–17:20
Nov 5 14:30–17:20
Nov 19 14:30–17:20
Dec 3 14:30–15:50
LAB 010710030 / 30Sep 17 14:30–17:20
Oct 1 14:30–17:20
Oct 22 14:30–17:20
Nov 5 14:30–17:20
Nov 19 14:30–17:20
Dec 3 14:30–15:50
LAB 011710129 / 32Sep 21 14:30–17:20
Oct 5 14:30–17:20
Oct 26 14:30–17:20
Nov 9 14:30–17:20
Nov 23 14:30–17:20
Nov 30 16:00–17:20
LAB 012710231 / 32Sep 21 14:30–17:20
Oct 5 14:30–17:20
Oct 26 14:30–17:20
Nov 9 14:30–17:20
Nov 23 14:30–17:20
Nov 30 16:00–17:20
LAB 013710326 / 32Sep 22 09:30–12:20
Oct 6 09:30–12:20
Oct 27 09:30–12:20
Nov 10 09:30–12:20
Nov 24 09:30–12:20
Dec 1 11:00–12:20
LAB 014710720 / 32Sep 22 09:30–12:20
Oct 6 09:30–12:20
Oct 27 09:30–12:20
Nov 10 09:30–12:20
Nov 24 09:30–12:20
Dec 1 11:00–12:20
LAB 015711231 / 32Sep 22 14:30–17:20
Oct 6 14:30–17:20
Oct 27 14:30–17:20
Nov 10 14:30–17:20
Nov 24 14:30–17:20
Dec 1 16:00–17:20
LAB 016711330 / 32Sep 22 14:30–17:20
Oct 6 14:30–17:20
Oct 27 14:30–17:20
Nov 10 14:30–17:20
Nov 24 14:30–17:20
Dec 1 16:00–17:20
LAB 017714032 / 32Sep 23 14:30–17:20
Oct 7 14:30–17:20
Oct 28 14:30–17:20
Nov 11 14:30–17:20
Nov 25 14:30–17:20
Dec 2 16:00–17:20
LAB 018714130 / 32Sep 23 14:30–17:20
Oct 7 14:30–17:20
Oct 28 14:30–17:20
Nov 11 14:30–17:20
Nov 25 14:30–17:20
Dec 2 16:00–17:20
LAB 019725027 / 28Sep 24 14:30–17:20
Oct 8 14:30–17:20
Oct 29 14:30–17:20
Nov 12 14:30–17:20
Nov 26 14:30–17:20
Dec 3 16:00–17:20
LAB 020727427 / 28Sep 24 14:30–17:20
Oct 8 14:30–17:20
Oct 29 14:30–17:20
Nov 12 14:30–17:20
Nov 26 14:30–17:20
Dec 3 16:00–17:20

Reviewed on UW Flow

59% liked it54% easy80% useful

From 224 ratings and 54 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.

  • This course is an exercise in two things: memorization and application. Like first year labs, the procedure for every experiment is clearly laid out and you are supplied with enough material beforehand. Read the pre-lab modules, and watch any videos that are posted. Also look up JoVE (Journal of Video Education) videos beforehand for any other experiment if you need the procedure cleared. You are expected to make flowcharts for each experiment. Try your best to participate in pre-lab talks. There are multiple experiments in each lab session; if you have prepared well, each should take around ~30 min or less. Lab quizzes occur unannounced and count for a lot, relatively speaking. They are…

    Aug 2023 · liked it · 2 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • I did not have to take this lab and REGRET my choice. The disorganization is next-level, the experiments are practically useless (any result you get is disregarded to record the expected results for the final), and the lab instructor will occasionally come in and verbally berate students for not knowing how to perform the techniques (that the vast majority of us have never done before). The lab manual also instructs you to place burning hot metal on your wrist to see if it "sizzles" (???). Overall wild experience, I cannot even come up with an analogy because I am still flabbergasted by the entire experience. Just don't take it if you don't have to (and if you do RIP).

    Dec 2025 · didn’t like it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • pick a good partner

    Dec 2020 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Read procedures beforehand, come optimistic, don't let the huge lab manual scare you.

    Dec 2018 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • This course is so frustrating. It's a 3h block but you MIGHT spend 2h there. You just slap microbe cultures on jello and then leave and wait for it to grow. Stupid and should be replaced by a tutorial where you observe prepared plates, as it takes too much time for the actual techniques learned

    Dec 2018 · didn’t like it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

Discussed on r/uwaterloo

70 posts and comments in 65 threads mention BIOL 240L, August 2012 to December 2024. Quoted word for word, newest first; each reply sits under the post and the comment that started its branch. Search r/uwaterloo for newer posts.

Fall 2024

Winter 2024

Fall 2023

Bird Science Courses 4 points, 11 comments

“Hi, does anyone have recommendations on bird science courses in the 200, and 300 levels( (excluding BIOL 225, BIOL 280/PHYS 280, and SCI units) ? …”

u/Picolloo: “BIOL 240 online during spring was easy, the prof makes great video lectures that are easy to follow and most (like 95%) content tested is from those videos BIOL 240L was fun, but two lab reports will likely make you go bald if you want birds. …”

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BIOL 240L - keep or drop? 1 point, 4 comments

u/voxaun: “unintentionally missed the 2nd lab, and after speaking w the prof it'll be a -10% deduction in my grade. the exam is worth 45%, and is notorious for being extremely hard. is it worth it to WD for an extra 10% by taking it next term? the course is only worth 0.25 credits.”

u/Loud-Meeting-8434: “Yeah this is a tricky situation. Keep in mind that BIOL 240L is needed for BIOL 241 and that BIOL 241 is a pre-req for alot of 3rd year courses. Since the lab is only 0.25 credits, it shouldn't impact your grade too much. Try your best to be well prepared for the exam.”

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Spring 2023

BIOL240L 1 point, 2 comments

u/somebodywithbig: “They haven't released the final mark for BIOL240L, but I'm very sure that I failed the final. What are my options? can I take it at another university/collage? The final was so long, and I know it's not gonna be easy next term here.”

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Winter 2023

UW second year biochem/ biology course help 6 points, 6 comments

“I am about to enter my second year in biochem and wanted to ask about the course BIOL240 for anyone who took it. …”

u/Professional_Act149: “… If you hope to get higher grades, you will need to put much more time on it (I also think BIOL 240L was very helpful for understanding the concepts, but it was also very time-consuming... …”

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Fall 2022

Need study advice for BIOL 240L and Chem 266 6 points, 2 comments

u/Live_Woodpecker_9586: “… BIOL 240L, I’ve heard that duxbury sets the paper very hard and makes it tricky, any advice on how to approach her question or study for the course? Chem 266…I just dont know…I keep practicing and practising yet I don’t do well. …”

u/ChocolateLover23: “For BIOL 240L I found that you basically have to memorize the lab manual and the online slides to do well. Focus on what was used in the labs and why. …”

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Spring 2022

Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026

Calendar versions

Undergraduate Calendar