Bacteria Lab experiment

Purpose: to explore the growth og bacteria and the effect of the following treatments

              -disinfectant

              -soap(no mechanical rubbing)

-The bacteria will be from: a) know sample: Sarcina aurantiaca (latin name)

                                           b) 3 unknown samples from around PW and 1 from the scotch tape

        

-Aseptic technique: Uses the bunsen burner to sterilized both the loop and the mouth of the know sample test tube to avoid cross-contamination  from the microbes.

-Record observations using drawing or camera

Materials: -3 plates of nutriet agar

                -1 paper disc soaked in LYSOL

                -scotch tape

                -1 control paper disc  

                -1 streile paaper disc

Procedure:

-Known sample
1. use the aseptic technique and place some known sample in one of the agar plates

2. seal the agar plate with known sample with tapes and label it
4. wait for the bacteria to grow.
5. record observations

-Known sample with discs (use the above plate if a third plate is not available)
1.Divide a plate into four sections - E,F,G,H
2. use aseptic technique to place some known sample on the plate
3.place the soaped disc in section E, Lysol disc in  F, control disc in  G and sterilized disc in H
4. wait for the bacteria to grow.
5. record observations

-Unknown samples
1.label and divide an agar plate into sector A,B,C,D equally

2. search for 3 unknow samples around PW by scotch tape and place them in 3 of the 4 sectors on
the plate. The fourth sample is the tape itself and acts as a control sample. Place it on  the fourth sector.
(Sector A:stair rail/ Sector B: door push/ Sector C: door knob/ Sector D: control sample of the tape)

3.label the sample to indicate the origin of the samples after sealing the plate

4.Wait for the bacterium to grow.

5.record observations

First Observation:

-Known sample plate: on the sector E (contains soaped disc) of our known sample EFGH plate,  an orange/yellow spot is formed to the left hand side of the sector. This indicates that a single colony is formed by one kind of bacterium. The other four sectors (F,G,H) do not appear to have any formation of bacterial colony. Therefore, they have nil results. Our results appear to be similar to other groups

-Unknown sample plate: a single colony of bacterium is  formed in the sector C which contains unknown sample from a door knob. the colony appears to be in orange and yellowish in which the colour is similar to the known sample. Other sectors (A,B,D) do not appear to have any colonies of bacterium, therefore, they have nil results. However, the stair rail sample of another group appears to be bacterium positive and a single colony is formed.

Second Observation:

-Know sample plate: the result from the second observation is frightening. Before, there was only a single colony formed in sector E. Now, there are yellowish and orange colonies formed all over the plate, some separated, others sticking together. . This result indicates that the growth of bacteria accelerated a lot over the last weekend.

-Unknown sample plate: in sector C, the single colony remains at the same spot and becomes larger in circumference comparing to the first observation. A new single colony is founded between sector A and B which its origin is really confusing. I guess it is from the the stair rail since the chance of getting a bacteria from it is higher.



Conclusion: Although disinfectant and soap are effective for a period of time, they could not kill all of the bacterium. Therefore, two weeks after the experiment, colonies of Sarcina aurantiaca are formed all over the know sample plate and even paper discs 

Photos taken while carrying out the experiment

Chocolate

Information about phenylethylamine

My chocolates for the christmas...have already finished half of them...

It is only 2 weeks from the winter break, everyone is buying chocolates for their Christmas, as  deserts and gifts.

Have you ever wonder why chocolate is the most popular desert used as a gift between friends, relatives and even lovers? Phenylethylamine is the molecule which creates the "love" in human beings. However, its effect only lasts for about 3 years....this is why so many couples break up each year...this compound is also found in chocolate unexpectedly, which enhances and extends the period of "love" after absorbing by the body. Therefore, chocolate can actually create "love" between people. So...go and buy some for the person you love!

H5N1 revived in hongkong...

the H5N1 influenza has disappeared from Hong Kong, my home city for a few years, however, It appeared again recently. According to the news, a women was infected was infected by H5N1 while visiting mainland china, bringing back the long lost virus back to hongkong..It is really sad to hear that though I am not taunted since I am now in vacouver. I hope that I won't get the virus when I go back to Hongkong during the Winter break, or else our class might get it.....

                     

Nanobots

Nanobots are robots created in a scale of micro 10^-6 or nano 10^-9 that is used to assist human functions , carry out reaction and action to obtain beneficial effects in medical and mechanical areas. Recently, there was a nanobot developed reported by yahoo.hk news. The bot is called "hydromina" and it is used to carryout artificial fertilization by injecting genetic materials through its tube to the cell. And therefore, it increase the rate of success by 100 times comparing normal operation. However, it is so expensive to make< 3 thousand euro for one nanobot, which makes it hard to be mass produced in the present. But it is truely a great success in human technology.  Just a few years ago, scientists claimed that they would develop nanobots in 20 years, it is hard to believe we could could have achieved it in just a few years.IIn the future, nanobots can help human resolve a lot of diseases that are now currently untreatable...but as everyone knows, they will be used on military areas ultimately...
                A digital 3 dimensional  model of  an imaginary nanobot

Maggots

Maggots in danger!

the maggots found on the mushroom were being kept a dish for inspection. we could clearly see the fluid inside the maggots and the movement of the fluid inside the maggots when they are swallowing their "comrades'" . the maggots had been healthy for a few days with the nutritions provided by their dead companion and the whole class was wishing and expecting them to turn into flies. Despite of  the maximum effort of Ms Chung and my classmates...the maggots still failed to survive. I hope there will be another chance to breed these maggots again

CAMOSUN BOG

SAMPLE OF AN AQUA PLANT

ROTTEN MUSHROOM 1

 ROTTEN MUSHROOM 2

 THE EGGS OF SALMON

MAGGOTS UNDER THE MICROSCOPE

 MAGGOTS

 SAMPLES OF KING CRAB AND BARNACLE

SOME SAMPLES OF ANIMILIA

Scientific Investigation

The photo was taken in the fishermen's market in southern richmond. This swan may look beautiful and normal but it is actually standing out in a way that people could hardly notice. It is definitely kind and keen to interact with people. But what's special about it was that I saw a metallic ring on his left leg that is marked with letters. Although I could not see the letters, I guess the swan is used to be involed in some kind of scientific investigation or statistic. Thus, it does not fear human and even  interact with people initiately.