Micro lab flashcards
What are potential hazards in the lab?
Chemical, biological, fire, electrical, and physical hazards.
What are standard safety practices in the lab?
Wearing PPE, proper labeling, safe chemical handling, and waste disposal procedures.
What are personal protective equipment (PPE) used in the lab?
BSL 1: Lab Coat
BSL 2: Gloves and Goggles
How should various materials be disposed of in the lab?
According to their type: biological waste, sharps, and chemicals have specific disposal protocols.
Glass: Brown plastic bin
Plastic: Orange Bucket
Why is handwashing important, and how do you wash hands correctly?
Prevents contamination; wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
What are the parts of a microscope and their functions?
(Review further)
Eyepiece: Magnifies image.
Objective Lenses: Different magnifications.
Stage: Holds the slide.
Light Source: Illuminates specimen.
Coarse Focus Knob: Initial focusing.
Fine Focus Knob: Precise focusing.
What are magnification, resolution, and contrast in microscopy?
Magnification enlarges an image, resolution clarifies detail, and contrast differentiates between specimen parts.
How do you calculate total magnification?
Multiply the eyepiece magnification by the objective lens magnification.
What unit is used to express the size of microbial cells?
Micrometers (µm)
What is the purpose/advantage of making a wet mount?
To observe living organisms, motility, and natural cell shape without staining.
How do you make a wet mount?
Make a well with Vaseline/petroleum jelly, place a drop of liquid sample on a slide, cover with a coverslip, and observe under a microscope.
What is the purpose/advantage of the hanging drop technique?
It provides better observation of motility and avoids drying, allowing longer examination.
How do you perform the hanging drop technique?
Place a drop of liquid on a coverslip, invert it over a depression slide, and observe under a microscope.
How can you tell the difference between Brownian motion and true motility?
Brownian motion is random and caused by water molecules, while true motility shows directional movement.
How can you tell the difference between Brownian motion and true motility?
Brownian motion is random and caused by water molecules, while true motility shows directional movement.
Q: Where are bacteria found?
A: Bacteria are found everywhere, including air, soil, water, and living organisms.
Q: Where are bacteria found?
A: Bacteria are found everywhere, including air, soil, water, and living organisms.
Q: What is the definition of a sterile environment?
A: A sterile environment is free of all living microorganisms.
Q: What factors affect bacterial growth?
A: Temperature, pH, oxygen levels, and nutrient availability.
Q: Define agar medium, petri dish, agar plate, and colony.
A: Agar medium: A gel-like substance for growing bacteria.
Petri dish: A shallow, round dish for culture growth.
Agar plate: A petri dish containing agar medium.
Colony: A group of identical bacterial cells from a single parent cell.
Q: What are standard practices for using agar plates to grow bacteria?
A: Incubate plates upside down, use aseptic techniques, and label plates properly.
Q: What are standard practices for using agar plates to grow bacteria?
A: Incubate plates upside down, use aseptic techniques, and label plates properly.
Q: What is the purpose of a pure culture?
A: To isolate and grow a single species of microorganism for study.
Q: What is contamination? What are some sources of contamination?
A: Contamination: The presence of unwanted organisms.
Sources: Airborne particles, improper handling, and unsterilized equipment.