LAB REPORT IN GENERAL BIOLOGY 1

Hay Infusion

This laboratory activity about taking a closer look upon different microorganisms
thriving in a nutrient-rich environment, scientifically termed as hay infusion aims to let us
students discover a great deal about microscopic specimen. Beforehand, we cultured
these organisms into the infusion from a mixture of boiled dried grass and dirty water.
Since this activity allows us to utilize microscopes, we were once again oriented about its
parts and how we must use the laboratory apparatus with utmost care and diligence.

The first task for any group is to find a source of light at a proper location, in order
to use the microscope. This took eons for us to accomplish and one factor might have
been how we were behind a group which was blocking the natural light passing through
the window. In addition, there were a lot of shadows since we were overarching the
microscopes. Finding an alternative and using the artificial light from the fluorescent lights
were not an easy feat either. Completing this preliminary task gained us our droppers.

After the strenuous task of finding a light source, we started to gather drops from
our four hay infusions to be observed in slides. At first, it was hard to see some organisms
using just the Scanning Power Objective because all we could see were small pieces of
dirt or dried leaves, but we were able to see few microorganisms after using the Low
Power Objective. Needless to say, we still had a pretty hard time finding our specimen.
We decided to change our tactics and we tried to get a drop from the bottom of our
canister where we put our hay infusion to see if it contains more organisms. We also tried
to use the High Power Objective even though the circumference of the surrounding we
were looking at got smaller.

Due to numerous trials and errors we were able to discover and observe different
microorganisms. Some of it looks either gray or transparent. We have also seen some
with ciliates. All of them are moving in different ways, some are swimming while some
glide through. They also move at different rates. Some moves at a great speed while
some looks like they were strolling in a park. Because of this we had to draw them as
soon as we saw them and we even took a video so we won’t miss the way it looks. Later
that day, we traversed the internet to find organisms that closely resemble our drawings,
we concluded they looked like; bacteria from the genus Bacillus and another one from
Spirillum, several ciliates from the genus Coleps and Paramecium, and what we believe
are from the phylum Rotifers, microscopic and near-microscopic pseudo coelomate
animals.

Our group in particular had a blast doing this activity. It tested our patience but
seeing all these microorganisms is very rewarding. We have come to learn that through
the use of hay infusion, a nutrient media, we are able to culture microorganisms. From
the simple activity of gathering dirty water and setting aside a turbid solution came very
great deals of lessons that made us further understand microorganisms and how they
reproduce.

DOCUMENTATION:

GROUP MEMBERS:
BETEZ, Arthur E. Jr. OLATA, Mark Bryan C.
LAPORTEZA, Darren C. CARRASCO, Venice Ann S.
LOMOTOS, Trevor Phoenix E. STEM – 21