Biology 120 was a course taught by Dr. Znosko. This course focused heavily on conducting research as well as writing research papers. I enjoyed this class a lot because I believe I gained multiple skills in writing and conducting research. This passage below was a methods sections that I had written to discuss our bacteria swab lab.
Dylan Scordellis
September 17, 2019
Methods/Materials
For this experiment, bacterial growth is being tested to determine whether or not bacteria are more present within one waterspout than another spout. For this to be tested, an experiment was conducted to help sample and incubate bacteria.
Three petri dishes filled with nutrient rich agar were prepared. The petri dish was to help contain the samples while each sample grew, and the agar was to help the growth process. Once the dishes are prepared, each lid was divided into three sections to ensure that there was a section for the three samples (sensor spout, main spout, and the control, which was the top of the water fountain). Each section was labelled so that there was no confusion for further referencing and observing. Once prepared, swabs were used to help gather a small sample from both spouts as well as the control. In this experiment, six swabs were used to gather the small samples. One thing that was kept in mind while swabbing was to swab in a different area each time so that a proper sample could be gathered [1].
After the completion of collecting the samples and placing each within their designated petri dish, each dish was placed lid side down so that the agar remained on the top. All of the samples were placed into an incubator to further the growth of the bacteria. The temperature was set at room temperature (~73.4 degrees Fahrenheit) to ensure that no harmful bacteria grew within the petri dishes. Each sample sat for approximately one week.
Once the incubation was complete, each sample was then observed for data collection. Measurements included the total amount of bacterial colonies, the color of each colony, and the percentage of coverage for each of the colonies in each section on the petri dish. All of the data was recorded and graphed and then results/conclusions were drawn.
Work Cited
Melchiorsen, J., & Bruhn, J. B. (2009, October 13). Antibacterial Activity of Marine Culturable Bacteria Collected from a Global Sampling of Ocean Surface Waters and Surface Swabs of Marine Organisms.