Kind of good news is I ask my teacher if I could present on Tuesday because I told her I didn't have all the results, yet. Not sure if it's good since my experiments don't test what I'm looking for(?).
Does individual microorganisms mean individual bacteria cells? If they are how would I expose them to the antiseptic? If they are just the bacteria colonies growing on the agar, how would I expose them to the antiseptic? The same way as the first experiment ("pour" it in and let it stay?)?donnahardy2 wrote: ...To measure the resistance of bacteria, you would need to start with individual microorganisms, expose them to the antiseptic, and then grow them on the agar to count them.
...You would need to select colonies that survive the antiseptic, culture them...
3. ...you need to try to add the same amount of bacteria to each plate. I'm not sure from your first experiment where the bacteria came from.
Also, since this is my first time growing bacteria I'm not sure how to move bacteria colonies to another dish to culture them (I wouldn't need to know which ones are alive do I?). Do I just wipe over the agar surface with the bacteria and then streak a new plate? How would I be able to add the same amount of bacteria to each plate? The bacteria from the first experiment came from a trash can lid, though it wasn't a measured area.
How would I explain why the results aren't quantitative. Would they be qualitative? Also, I'm not sure if I should mention this, but my results for one of the plates are:donnahardy2 wrote:This experiment tests for the ability of colonies that are forming on the agar to survive, but does not give you a quantitative result.
Untreated: 142; Treated 1x: 146; Treated 2x: 156; Treated 3x: 172. This technically means that 4 colonies grew with the Germ-X covering the agar for three days the first time, 10 the 2nd, and 16 the third. The colonies are counted 3 days after treated with Germ-X.
What type of results will this experiment give? And if I did do:donnahardy2 wrote:1. Your approach to the analysis of your results is correct. If 52 colonies are present on the untreated plate, and 12 on the treated, then you observed a 77% reduction in colonies. You should not use decimal points because your results are not significant to .01%.
would it still have nothing to do with bacteria resistance? If yes, then what exactly is my experiment testing? Bacterial reduction/how well Germ-X works? Would my discussion and conclusions be something vaguely like: The experiment has failed in providing results that would be able to determine if bacteria has developed resistance?procrastinationking wrote:Since these two plates *regarding the experiment you suggested me are done I'm going to do this.
Use new, sterile cotton swab dipped in boiled water to wipe over the 10 x 10 cm square then streak over new agar plate. Then apply the antiseptic over it, same amount as the first time, wait 30 seconds [did this the first time (Germ-X says it kills many common germs in as little as 15 seconds)], use a new paper towel (dipped in boiling water and squeezed with sterile gloves) to pick up the antiseptic (cover the square get it off the square like popping a pimple or something *bring the antiseptic to the center then pick up*). Then use new, sterile cotton swab dipped in boiled water to wipe over the *same square* 10 x 10 cm square then streak over another new agar plate.
Also, is it necessary to include the inactive ingredients of Germ-X in the materials or discussion? And, yes, when I changed from Chlorox to Germ-X, I included how ethyl alcohol kills bacteria. Thank you for your concern and for your effort to me sites just in case I didn't.
The presentation tommorow and Tuesday is the class presentations. The actual judging isn't until the Thursday two weeks from now (although that doesn't mean that the class presentation isn't important). I think I have more to say but I lost whatever it was.
EDIT: Are the result of the experiment you suggested quantitative?
P.S.
I think you've gotten me mixed up with someone else. My name is Andi (My mom thought it would be unique T_T to have Andy spelled differently). Okay, now that you know what to call me, how should I address you?donnahardy2 wrote:Hi Ellie,
Sorry if my grammar isn't as well as before. I usually take about an hour to make my post and half an hour to rework the grammar (as best as I can). However, I need to work on my board now (cutting out, pasting, etc.)