Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

Hi,
I have two questions and a comment about this project.
Can I use a Crock Pot on warm instead of the incubator? It is the directed temperature.
Do you have any suggestions for what I should call my project? Something catchy.
My comment is: The price range says ($50 - $100) but the pGlo kit is $100 and an incubator would be $300. That would be $400 dollars total which is not at all what the price range says. You might want to update this because it was misleading and now I need to earn money because it was out of my price range (and I didn't know that when I selected it) :/
Please answer soon

Hi CGF,

Welcome to Science Buddies. Are you doing this project?

https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... p013.shtml

A crock pot on low would create a temperature too high for bacterial growth, about 250 degrees F (121 degrees C).

Is there an incubator at school that you could use? If not, then check the temperature of the space close to your hot water heater, or test a cardboard box with an enclosed light turned on. If the temperature is 37 degrees Celsius (98 degrees F) or slightly lower, this will make an ideal incubator for this project. You might also try checking with a local pet store that sells reptiles for other lower cost options for maintaining the optimum temperature. If the temperature is higher than 40 degrees C, then don't use it, as the bacterial could be killed by high temperature.

If you cannot improvise a suitable incubator, it would be best to use ambient temperature (about 22 degrees C) , which will allow the bacteria to grow slowly. You would probably have to wait two, maybe 3 days for results, but at least the bacteria would not be cooked to death.

I do apologize that the pricing estimate given on the Science Buddies project guide was not accurate. I will report the problem. We do try to provide cost estimates to help with project planning, however, I'm sure the cost estimate for this project did not include the incubator.

Please let us know if you have any other questions.


Donna Hardy

I agree with Donna on the incubation done at room temperature. I'm a microbiologist and I often will grow bacteria up at room temperature on a Friday afternoon when I want to run an experiment on Monday. You will get similar growth. Best of luck with your project!

Please let us know if you have other questions
Nikki