Intro to Microorganisms Lab
Background Information
THE EXPERIMENT
Creation of this page is for the purpose of making a digital representation of the lab conducted in my GBBE class. Keep in mind this is the experiment that I conducted, yet due to my error, altered the results. Could be performed differently to achieve correct results.
Can Living Microorganisms Be Formed From Non-living Materials In Broth By Spontaneous Generation?
Can Living Microorganisms Be Formed From Non-living Materials In Broth By Spontaneous Generation?
Materials: Procedure:
- Hot plate Fill the autoclave jar with 300mL of sink water using the graduated cylinder
- 50mL flask (4) Mix 2.4g of nutrient broth with the water and divide equally in 4 flasks
- Stopper with two holes Heat each flask individually on a hot plate until boiling (3 min.)
- Stopper without holes Place stoppers on desired flasks immediately after removal from hot plate
- Stopper with one hole Label each flask with a number on a flask 1 through 4
- Bent glass Place no stopper on flask #1
- Powder nutrient broth (2.4g) Place a stopper with one hole and the bent glass piece on flask #2
- Sink with running water Place a stopper with no holes on flask #3
- 100mL graduated cylinder Place a stopper with two holes on flask #4
- 500mL autoclave jar Let sit and observe and collect data for four days
- Tape
Slideshow of Data
Data Collection Results
Conclusions:
Based on the results microorganisms grew in flask #1, #2, and #4 but not #3. Due to the stopper without holes as well as the boiling of the broth to kill any living organisms to start, no microorganisms grew in flask #3. However due to exposure of air and the forces of gravity pushing microorganisms into the broth in #1 and #4, living organisms grew. Nevertheless in #2 microorganisms did grow as well, however it is only due to human error of not sterilizing the glassware prior to the experiment. If the glassware would have been clean, flask #2 would not have experienced growth as the forces of gravity cannot push microorganisms in the air sideways through the bent glass. Nevertheless, flask #1 and #4's growth can be seen as an act of spontaneous generation while #2 and #3's an act of biogenesis.
Based on the results microorganisms grew in flask #1, #2, and #4 but not #3. Due to the stopper without holes as well as the boiling of the broth to kill any living organisms to start, no microorganisms grew in flask #3. However due to exposure of air and the forces of gravity pushing microorganisms into the broth in #1 and #4, living organisms grew. Nevertheless in #2 microorganisms did grow as well, however it is only due to human error of not sterilizing the glassware prior to the experiment. If the glassware would have been clean, flask #2 would not have experienced growth as the forces of gravity cannot push microorganisms in the air sideways through the bent glass. Nevertheless, flask #1 and #4's growth can be seen as an act of spontaneous generation while #2 and #3's an act of biogenesis.