microbiology

Question 1

what are some aseptic techniques that is needed for labs

Answer 1

Aseptic techniques include:
Washing hands thoroughly
No food or drink allowed in the lab
Disinfecting work surfaces with disinfectant or alcohol
Not allowing the growth of microorganisms at body temperature
Using flamed loops or sterile swabs when transferring cultures
Wearing gloves and goggles
Flaming culture bottlenecks to prevent contamination
Sterilising or disposing of all used equipment
Washing hands thoroughly
Having a lit bunsen burner in the room
Only removing petri dish lids when necessary

Question 2

why are aseptic techniques needed

Answer 2

ensure the microbes being investigated don’t escape or become contaminated with another unwanted, and possibly pathogenic, microbe

Question 3

what are the different types of agar

Answer 3

Broth – mixture of distilled water, nutrients and a bacterial culture

Agar plate – petri dish containing agar jelly

Selective media – inhibits growth of certain organisms whilst encouraging growth of others

Question 4

what are the principle and techniques of organism culturing

Answer 4

Transfer bacteria using a sterile pipette from broth to agar plate.
Spread bacteria using sterile plastic spreader.
Place paper discs soaked in different antibiotics using sterile forceps. Add a negative control disc (soaked in sterile water).
Tape lid on lightly, turn plate over and incubate at 25°C for 24-48 hours.
Size of inhibition zone indicates how well an antibiotic works. Larger zone = better the antibiotic at inhibiting growth. (Inhibition zone is where the bacteria cannot grow, shown as a clear patch).