Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

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Hi,

You may want to read these Science Buddies pages on working with agar:

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

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

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

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

You may have to scroll way down these pages to see the useful content, and some pages have links on the left side that bring up the most useful content, so explore thoroughly.

If you innoculate well, use an appropriate plate, and incubate at an appropriate temperature you should have no trouble at all in getting the bacterial lawn you want. The Carolina Biological Supply source you are considering is frequently used and cited in Science Buddies projects, so it should be a good supplier for you.

If you still have questions about technique after reading the above linked pages you should probably talk to your teacher if possible. Your teacher might be able to demonstrate the techniques you need help with, which we can’t do from the blog.

Good luck with the project!

Barrett L Tomlinson

Thanks for the links.

In one of the instructions, it says to use quadrant streaking in order to get well-isolated colonies. But the thing is, I do not want colonies. I want a bacteria lawn, so I can measure the zone of inhibition. Therefore, how should I go about streaking the plates?

Hi!
Quadrant streaking is best explained through a diagram, so check out this website!

http://www.umsl.edu/~microbes/streakplates.pdf

Post back if you have any other questions, hope this helps!