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Measure Microbes' Growth Science Projects (17 results)

Learn how to measure microbial growth--collecting accurate data about organisms that as individuals you need a microscope to see. Measure the size of a colony, number of colonies, or even what the organisms produce.

Biowarfare: Experiment with Viruses that Destroy Bacteria
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Science Fair Project Idea
Scientific Method
Most people are not aware that the soil around them is a battle scene. The combatants are very small—bacteria on one side and bacteriophage on the other. The bacteriophage (or phage for short) try to pierce the outer coats of the bacteria and inject them with phage DNA. If successful, the DNA will take over the inner machinery of the bacterial cells and force them to make many copies of the phage. After the copies are made, the bacterial cells break apart, releasing new phage that start… Read more
Is the Gold in My Jewelry Real?
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Science Fair Project Idea
Scientific Method
Have you ever wondered if a piece of jewelry is real gold or if it's just some ordinary metal alloy? It turns out that some metals have a unique property; even in small amounts, they can be toxic to some organisms, including algae, molds, fungi, and bacteria, although it often takes many hours to see an effect. Can this phenomena, called the oligodynamic effect be used to tell whether or not the gold or silver in a piece of jewelry is real? Do bacteria react differently to pure, plated, and… Read more
Tiny Titans: Can Silver Nanoparticles Neutralize E. coli Bacteria?
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Science Fair Project Idea
Scientific Method
Have you ever heard that nanoparticles can kill bacteria? You may have even seen some consumer products advertise that they contain antibacterial nanoparticles. A nanometer is one billionth of a meter long. Nanoparticles are usually just a few nanometers in diameter — really, really tiny! So how can something that small kill bacteria which are approximately 700 - 1400 nanometers across? Are they really effective? In this science project you will grow some E. coli bacteria and… Read more
Zapping Yeast with X-rays
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Science Fair Project Idea
Scientific Method
Have you ever wondered how X-rays affect living organisms? You have probably had X-rays taken at the dentist's or doctor's office. These X-rays are considered to be relatively safe, but every X-ray exposes a person to some radiation, specifically electromagnetic radiation. Radiation is energy that travels through space as either waves or high speed particles. Watch this video to learn more about electromagnetic radiation. When the energy in X-rays encounters an object, it can… Read more
An Aerobic Exercise: Yeast Metabolism with and without Aeration
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Science Fair Project Idea
Scientific Method
This is a straightforward project on glucose metabolism in yeast. You will grow yeast under aerobic and anaerobic conditions and measure carbon dioxide output to assess metabolic efficiency. Read more
Cinnamon Gum and Mouth Microbes
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Science Fair Project Idea
Scientific Method
Did you know that a scientific study has shown that chewing Big Red Gum reduces mouth microbes? (ScienceDaily contributors, 2004) The cinnamon oil in the gum is a natural defense against mouth bacteria that cause tooth decay and bad breath. Conduct an experiment to compare products with cinnamon essence in gum, candy, toothpaste, and mouthwash to see if they can decrease mouth germs. Do a before and after swab of the mouth with a Q-tip. Which treatments work the best? Can you find another… Read more
Death Rays: What Duration of Ultraviolet Exposure Kills Bacteria?
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Science Fair Project Idea
Scientific Method
Ultraviolet light can damage DNA molecules. If a cell's DNA repair mechanisms can't keep up with the damage, mutations are the result. As harmful mutations accumulate, the cell eventually dies. How much ultraviolet light is too much for a bacterial cell? Read more
Disinfectants
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Science Fair Project Idea
Scientific Method
Disinfectants are products that kill harmful bacteria that inhabit surfaces. Disinfectants can be in household and personal cleaning products. Which products work best? Compare different household cleaning products, like bleach or Lysol, to see which ones kill the most bacteria. Compare different brands of antibacterial hand soap or dish soap to see which brand is the most effective. How do hand sanitizers work? Compare rub-on hand sanitizers to see if they work better than alcohol, or compare… Read more
Do Different Dilutions of Disinfectants Affect the Development of Bacterial Resistance?
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Science Fair Project Idea
Scientific Method
This is a project that illustrates the process of natural selection in action. You'll need access to a laboratory for working with the bacterial cultures used in this project. Read more
How Do Food Preservatives Affect the Growth of Microorganisms?
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Science Fair Project Idea
Scientific Method
This project uses liquid cultures and agar plates to investigate the effects of different concentrations of a food preservative on microbial growth. Read more
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