Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

My partner and I have been trying to find a qualified scientist to mentor us of the use of growing bacillus cereus, we have been working on this for about a month and still nothing. We came to a conclusion that we cannot use bacillus cereus. Can anyone help me find a bacteria that we can grow so we can inhibit the grow by using peppermint oil? We are going to do steam distillation of peppermint herbs and apply it to the bacteria.

Hi Kevin,

I have been communicating with your partner as well. Note that it would really help the experts on the forum if you and your partner would post your questions in the same thread. That way, all the experts reading your posts can see everything you have asked and the other experts have posted.

That said, here some information that can help you do your experiment with a safer strain of bacteria:

Looking at the antibacterial properties of peppermint is an excellent idea, and it can be carried out with E. coli, which can be cultured in a high school laboratory.

This Science Buddies project will help you with the procedure: https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... p014.shtml

Here is some safety information about working with microorganisms: https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... fety.shtml

Here are details regarding the use of agar, the material used to culture bacteria: https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... Agar.shtml

Good luck, and please post again (in this same thread) if you have more questions!

Heather