Watts Cooking: Using a Microwave to Prepare Bacterial Media for Inquiry-Based Experiments

摘要: Microbiology provides an excellent opportunity to capture student interest, encourage exploration, and begin the development of research skills. With a low power microwave, similar type found in homes, short list materials easily obtainable and/or many biology laboratories, you can open this exciting world your life science classes. Microwaves are available at very reasonable prices, substitute for much more expensive laboratory autoclave. Your students choose design inquiry investigations as well learn basic techniques. Bacterial Culture Students across all grade ranges ability levels naturally fascinated by growth microorganisms, especially those growing their environment. However, order observe study bacteria, media, or food that bacteria need thrive, must be prepared sterilized. In clinical is done heating media 121 oC 15 psi pressure, process known autoclaving. This kills both vegetative spore forms microbes most effective method sterilization. autoclave (figure 1) costly not always schools with increasingly tight budgets. Purchasing plates costly. Using microwave inexpensive alternative preparing sterile used bacterial often performed schools. The depth these will depend on knowledge base bring experience. Preparation Sterilization Luria-Bertani Agar Growth Bacteria least one day advance carrying out any experiment. following procedure should prepare (LB) agar use experiments bacteria. Other kinds may manner. LuriaBertani broth made same formulation, leaving agar; (similar gelatin Jello-O) serves make semi-solid. Materials swabs (Q-tips, though sterile, clean work fine) balance hot pads 1 ml pipetting device pipettes four plastic petri dishes per group 250 flask bottle (make sure it isn’t too tall microwave) wax marking pencil permanent marker tryptone yeast extract sodium chloride solution 0.1 N NaOH distilled water beaker tray containing 10% chlorine bleach disposal Petri