Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

Someone please reply me Please this is my third post I am doing a project on the antibiotic properties of Echinecea Pupurea and Echinecea Angustifolia against bacterial cultures of E.coli

I don't know the materials I will need

and I need help setting up my experiment

PLEASE HELP ME, I NEED HELP REALLY BAD PLEASE, if any one have any suggestions, ANY on how to set up my experiment PLEASE reply me

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE[/img]

Hi borborsmart,

I am uncertain what facility you have at your disposal to do this project.

If you have access to a laboratory with proper disposal mechanisms for bacteria and chemicals, then the following will help you. Otherwise, if you're doing this at home, I highly urge you to consider a different topic.

Finding the right kind of E. Coli: There are all kinds of variants of E. Coli. Some are particularly good at subcloning while others are good at growing particular proteins from transgenic strains. You will have to ask a scientist to give you access to a small bit of bacteria culture that is fully characterized. (ie. gene defects and any other potential gene additions to e. coli genome)

Checking for echinacea properties: You will have to figure out what chemical is the key ingredient of echinacea. After isolating the key ingredient, you will have to use this for your experiment.

There are a considerable number of other specific factors to consider; but, if you have a laboratory and incubator at your disposal, I can suggest more ideas.

Hope that helps,

James

Thank you very much, but how ever, I donot have a labortory, but I was thinking about maybe going to some labortory in a college and asking them to use their lab facilities, do you think that will work? but if I do continue with this how long do you think it's going to take, and where would you recommend me asking for help, or for use of a lab, and if there is any way you can narrow my experiment down to something that I can do without needing big labortory facilities please let me know.

thank you very much

You could ask for lab time. However, it will be very difficult. Normally, most high school students get access by applying for a research opportunity or award. It won't be easy...

If the experiment is planned correctly, it shouldn't take too long. I'd imagine not longer than a couple of weeks maximum, if you work continuously.

I don't know where you live; but I'm sure you could ask around your local community.

Hope that helps.

James