Yeast

[yeast]

My project question is, what are the effects of U.V. light on yeast? The question I have is, what kind of U.V. light should I use and where could I purchase, rent, or borrow it? THANK YOU!

[ScienceExpert123]

U.V. light will probably destroy many yeast cells and will decrease fermentation.
an example of this project: http://www.all-science-fair-projects.co ... ff706.html

I think that this project idea is great, but UV light is very harmful to humans and should not be tampered with, especially by a young student. I would suggest thinking about another, less dangerous project. (https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... deas.shtml)

good luck,
scienceexpert123

[deleted-71447]

Hi Yeast, Welcome to the Ask an Expert forums. We have a description of a project dealing with UV light and bacteria that relates to your topic:
https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... p017.shtml
I'd recommend reading the procedures and the cautions on that page. As mentioned, working with sterilizing UV light is hazardous, so to follow these procedures you would probably need to work under the supervision of an adult in a laboratory.
I hope that helps.
Chris

[donnahardy2]

Hi,

If you live in a suitable climate, one source of UV light you could safely use for a project like this is natural sunlight.

Donna Hardy

[yeast]

May I please interview you for my science project if you know alot about what my project is about? If not, what science buddie expert would? My project question is, what are the effects of U.V. light on yeast?



THANK YOU!

[deleted-71447]

Hi Yeast, I'm merging your newest post with your original post so that the experts can see the history of your project and questions.

My research involves a little bit of microbiology. I've also studied some mycology. So I know a thing or two about yeast, but other experts here with primary focus on microbiology will know more about the topic than I do. Feel free to ask any questions you want and I or someone else will do our best to answer. Science Buddies asks that all correspondence be kept in this forum.

[yeast]

My project question is, what are the effects of U.V. light on yeast? What kind of U.V. light should I use for my experiment, UV-A, UV-C, or both? I am not going to use UV-B.

THANK YOU!

[MelissaB]

Hi,

I have merged your new topic with your old one; please keep all your posts in the same thread so we can better help you. Please also note that individual experts may only check the forum once per week and that experts in general check only once a day in time zones all around the world, so it may take 24-48 hours to get a response to your post, and even longer if you are corresponding with an individual expert.

[donnahardy2]

Hi Yeast,

UV light causes damage to DNA in all microorganisms, including yeast. DNA molecules absorb the energy from the UV light, breaking some of the chemical bonds, which can result in cell death or mutations, depending on the amount of UV light. That is the reason that scienceexpert123 gave you a precaution about doing any experiments with UV light; we do want you to be very careful and follow all safety precautions if you proceed with this experiment. Here is a website that has more information on this topic:

http://www.nas.nasa.gov/About/Education ... ation.html

You can use yeast as a test organism to measure the effects of UV light by looking for mutations. Here is a typical experiment using yeast cells.

http://www.accessexcellence.org/AE/AEPC ... /using.php

Did you check out the project involving bacteria and UV light on the science buddies website? The information would be applicable to a similar project using yeast cells.

What are you doing for your project? Do you have a question, a hypothesis, and an experimental design yet? Please do let us know if you need any more information.

Donna Hardy

Did you look at the project

[yeast]

My project question is, what are the effects of U.V. light on yeast? When I am done with my experimenting, how should I dispose of the yeast after it's been subjected to the U.V. light?

[Emily Willingham]

Hi, Yeast--

As Melissa did above, I have merged this post into your topic that you began initially so that everyone can recognize it as yours and will be better able to help you. If we keep all of your posts in the same thread, that boosts the chances that people who are familiar with your project will see your question.

Emily

[Emily Willingham]

Hi, Yeast--

I've moved this post, as well. If you want your question at the top of the page, all you need to do is post it here. That will move this thread to the top because threads are arranged in order of most recent posts. All of your posts will be moved to this thread so that your questions can easily be viewed in one place.

Emily

[Emily Willingham]

Hi--

If you go to this page: https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... fety.shtml -- you will find some information about the safe disposal of microorganisms. It is always important to kill the microorganisms before disposing of them. Several sites I've viewed suggest using bleach or another disinfectant IF you do not have access to an autoclave (lab equipment that uses very high heat to destroy microorganisms). Bleach is also suggested here on the Science Buddies guide. If you do decide to use bleach, you should be sure to use the recommended dilution and also to have an adult either do it or supervise the process.

Let us know if you have any more questions, and please remember to post them here on this thread so that we will know the history of your project. Thanks, and also keep us posted on your progress!

Emily

[yeast]

Should I use a black box around the U.V. light to make it concentrate on one area, which, is the yeast?

[donnahardy2]

Hi Yeast,

Are you still working on the same project? If so, it is best to post on the same thread so the experts can keep track of the history of your project. We are all volunteers, and not always at our computers, so it may take a day or so for us to reply. Please be patient.

If you are working on your experimental design, you will want to go to the science fair project guide and go through the steps again to help you design your experiment. A black box or other barrier should be used around a UV light to keep stray UV light from getting into your eyes. Keeping the UV light in a box at a fixed distance from the sample can help you keep the experimental conditions controlled; you can vary the time of UV light exposure, while you keep the distance the same. Keeping the UV light in a box won't help concentrate it to any specific area.

I'm not sure I have answered your question, so please explain why you are asking this particular question if you still need more help.

Donna Hardy