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2017 MICROBE MISSION – CHEAT SHEET
KAREN L. LANCOUR
National Event Supervisor
National Rules Committee Chairman – Life Science
DISCLAIMER - This presentation was prepared using draft rules. There may be some changes in the
final copy of the rules. The rules which will be in your Coaches Manual and Student Manuals will be
the official rules.
BE SURE TO CHECK THE 2017 EVENT RULES for EVENT PARAMETERS and TOPICS
FOR EACH COMPETITION LEVEL
TRAINING MATERIALS:
• Training Power Point presents an overview of material in the training handouts
• 6 Training Handouts presents introductory topic content information – 1 General Handout
and 5 Handouts for Major Areas of Microbe Importance
• Practice Activities – Sample Lab Stations with keys
• 2 Sample Tournaments has sample problems with key
• Event Supervisor Guide has event preparation tips, setup needs and scoring tips
• Internet Resource & Training Materials are available on the Science Olympiad website at
www.soinc.org under Event Information.
• A Biology-Earth Science CD, a Microbe Mission CD as well as the Division B and Division
C Test Packets are available from SO store at www.soinc.org
Event Format :
• This is a lab-orientated competition to answer questions, solve problems, and analyze data
pertaining to various kinds of microbes.
• Content topics for Division B and C are listed in the rules and the level of reasoning and math
skills should be consistent with the grade level.
• Be sure to check the event parameters in the rules for the resources allowed and type of
goggles required.
MICROBE MISSION AND OTHER SCIENCE OLYMPIAD EVENTS:
• Disease Detective – 2017 topic is Food Borne Illness (many are microbial caused)
MICROBES
• The term microbe is short for microorganism which means small organism – observed with a
microscope
• Over 99% of microbes contribute to the quality of human life
• A small minority cause disease – in humans by sheer numbers or producing powerful toxins
• The major groups of microbes are bacteria, archaea, algae, fungi, protozoa & viruses
• In terms of numbers, microbes represent most of the diversity of life on Earth and are found in
every environment.
MICROSCOPES – See the 2017 MICROSCOPE REVIEW for a review of the Relative Size of
Microbes, Types of Microscopes, Parts of a Microscope and the Principles of Microscopy.
