Culturing Microorganisms

Question 1

Where is bacteria grown?

Answer 1

In a “culture medium “

Question 2

What does the culture medium contain?

Answer 2

The carbohydrates, minerals, proteins and vitamins bacteria needs to grow

Question 3

What can the culture medium be?

Answer 3

Nutrient broth solution or solid agar jelly

Question 4

Why all cultures organisms in the labs at school not kept above 25°C

Answer 4

Dangerous pathogens are more likely to grow above 25°C

Question 5

Steps to make an agar plate

Answer 5

Hot agar jelly
is poured into a shallow round plastic dishes called Petri dishes. When the jelly’s cooled and set, inoculating loop (wire loops) can be used to transfer microorganisms to the culture medium

Question 6

The steps to test the action of antibiotics on cultures of bacteria

Answer 6

1. Place paper discs soaked in different types (or different concentrations) of antibiotics on an agar plate that has an even covering of bacteria.
2. The antibiotics should diffuse into the agar jelly. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria will continue to grow on the agar around the paper discs, by non-resistant will die. A clear area will be left where the bacteria has died (the inhibition zones)
3. Make sure you have a control. This is a paper disk that has not been set in an antibiotic. Instead, soak it in sterile water.