Lab: the Bacteria Around You
Lab: The Bacteria Around You
James Brunet
Ms Owen
October 14th, 2012
Part 1
Purpose
To culture and observe the various types of bacteria found around Canterbury High School.
Materials and Methods
Refer to pages 422-425 of Biology 11 McGraw-Hill Ryerson and the handout “Gram Staining Procedure”.
Observations
Table 1: Locations of Bacteria Samples Quadrant | Location of Sample Obtained | 1 | Floor | 2 | Water fountain head | 3 | Auditorium Chair | 4 | Inside of Boys’ Bathroom Door Handle |
Table 2: Growth of Bacteria from Various Locations Around CHS after 48h in Incubator Quadrant | Total Number of Colonies | Description of Colonies | Number of Colonies | 1 | 1 | Irregular, flat, and lobate. Occupies entire quadrant. | 1 | 2 | About 8 | Milky-white coloured, punctiform, and entire. | 6 | | | Milky-white coloured, punctiform, and curled. | 2 | 3 | 10 | Milky, punctiform, and entire. | 8 | | | Yellow, punctiform, and entire. | 2 | 4 | 8 | Milky, irregular, lobate, and raised. | 1 | | | Milky, punctiform, and entire. | 4 | | | Milky, punctiform, and curled. | 2 | | | Clear, flat, circular, and undulate. | 1 |
Discussion
What areas around the school appeared to have the most bacteria? The least? Suggest reasons for these findings.
The area around the school that appeared to have the most bacteria was the inside of the boy’s bathroom door handle. Not only did it have the most diverse range of bacteria (four different types), it also had the 2nd highest number of colonies!
The area around the school with the least bacteria was, in my opinion, the floor. Although the single colony there grew very large, this was probably due to lack of competition, as there were no other colonies present. This seems to indicate that there is actually less diversity of bacteria on the floor than on a door handle.
I think that the door handle appears to have more bacteria for two main reasons. Firstly, the door handle
James Brunet
Ms Owen
October 14th, 2012
Part 1
Purpose
To culture and observe the various types of bacteria found around Canterbury High School.
Materials and Methods
Refer to pages 422-425 of Biology 11 McGraw-Hill Ryerson and the handout “Gram Staining Procedure”.
Observations
Table 1: Locations of Bacteria Samples Quadrant | Location of Sample Obtained | 1 | Floor | 2 | Water fountain head | 3 | Auditorium Chair | 4 | Inside of Boys’ Bathroom Door Handle |
Table 2: Growth of Bacteria from Various Locations Around CHS after 48h in Incubator Quadrant | Total Number of Colonies | Description of Colonies | Number of Colonies | 1 | 1 | Irregular, flat, and lobate. Occupies entire quadrant. | 1 | 2 | About 8 | Milky-white coloured, punctiform, and entire. | 6 | | | Milky-white coloured, punctiform, and curled. | 2 | 3 | 10 | Milky, punctiform, and entire. | 8 | | | Yellow, punctiform, and entire. | 2 | 4 | 8 | Milky, irregular, lobate, and raised. | 1 | | | Milky, punctiform, and entire. | 4 | | | Milky, punctiform, and curled. | 2 | | | Clear, flat, circular, and undulate. | 1 |
Discussion
What areas around the school appeared to have the most bacteria? The least? Suggest reasons for these findings.
The area around the school that appeared to have the most bacteria was the inside of the boy’s bathroom door handle. Not only did it have the most diverse range of bacteria (four different types), it also had the 2nd highest number of colonies!
The area around the school with the least bacteria was, in my opinion, the floor. Although the single colony there grew very large, this was probably due to lack of competition, as there were no other colonies present. This seems to indicate that there is actually less diversity of bacteria on the floor than on a door handle.
I think that the door handle appears to have more bacteria for two main reasons. Firstly, the door handle