OBJECTIVE

 To study the ubiquity of bacteria.

 To understand the presence of bacteria in surrounding environment.

 To demonstrate the necessity of aseptic technique

ABSTRACT

This experiment was conducted to show the ubiquity of microorganisms and study the

different characteristics of different colonies. It also demonstrates the importance of aseptic

techniques. For this experiment, we used the nutrient agar that was already prepared by the

lab assistant. We used four different agar with four different types of exposure. For the first

petri dish we used the objects that we used everyday in our daily live and touched it onto the

agar. Next, for the second, third and fourth dish we used water, soil and throat swab

respectively. These three petri dishes was used the sterilize swab to strike onto the agar. The

hypothesis of this experiment is bacteria presents everywhere in environment unless it is

already perform aseptic or microbial technique.

INTRODUCTION

Microorganisms are defined as the organisms that are too small to be seen clearly

through the naked eye. This lab “The Ubiquity of Bacteria” refers to the concept that bacteria

or microorganism are present everywhere in the surrounding environment. The term

‘ubiquitous’ itself given off the meaning of present everywhere. Besides, microorganisms can

be found in wide variety of environment like in air, on land, plants and animal in fresh or salt

water environments. Bacteria able to live everywhere because they are all easy to adjust to all

different type of environment. Bacteria also colonize in that particular environment.

 Microorganisms are easily contaminating the surface of all objects except when a

basic microbial technique for example aseptic technique is performed. However, without

microbes, we would not be able to digest food properly, be more susceptible to harmful

pathogens, and have an atmosphere unsuitable to life as we currently know it. In this lab the

nutrient agar was used and exposed to various types of objects in order to observe the

presence of bacteria. The experiment was prepared to observe the presence of bacteria in

different types of objects.

Nutrient Agar is a general purpose, nutrient medium used for the cultivation of

microbes supporting growth of a wide range of non-fastidious organisms. Nutrient agar is

popular because it can grow a variety of types of bacteria and fungi, and contains many

nutrients needed for the bacterial growth. The composition of nutrient agar are 0.5% Peptone,

0.3% beef extract/yeast extract, 1.5% agar, 0.5% NaCl, distilled water and pH adjusted to

neutral (7.4) at 25 °C.

MATERIALS

4 nutrients agar plates Sterile petri dish Lake water

Soil 4 sterile swab Fingers

PROCEDURE

4 nutrient agar plates was prepared by the lab instructor. Firstly, after received the

agar, the dishes was labelled at the bottom of the plate as dish 1, dish 2 dish 3 and dish 4. For

the dish 1, the section was divided into four divisions which were coin, fingers and liquid.
After done labelling, the agar was exposed to the object as labelled respectively. The plate

then was covered and set aside at room temperature.

Water. For the second dish, we used the pool water. Firstly, we dipped the sterile

swab into the pool water. Then, immediately we spread the water onto the agar. The step was

repeated two times to ensure the agar was fully spread with pool water. After that, the plates

was covered with cover and set aside.

Soil. For the third agar dish, we prepared a soil solution. Firstly, we flamed the lid of

bottle filled with water,H2O then immediately a spoonful of soil was added into it. Then the

bottle lid was placed and the mixture was shake to produce the soil solution. Then, a sterilize

swab was dipped into the solution and was touched over the surface of agar. The swab was

dipped two times to ensure the solution spread for the whole agar. The lid of petri dish was

placed and was securely taped with parafilm. The agar plate was set aside at the room

temperature.

Throat swab. For the fourth dish, we used the sterilize swab and touched it onto the

inner of cheek. Then the swab was strike on the agar. After that the lid was placed and taped

with parafilm. Lastly, all of four petri dish was set aside at room temperature and was

observed on another day for at least about 24 hours. The observation made was recorded.
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Aryal, S. (2018, September 27). Nutrient Agar. Retrieved April 14, 2019, from microbiology

info: https://microbiologyinfo.com/nutrient-agar-composition-preparation-and-uses/

John S. Avens Carey L. Quarles Diane J. Fagerberg. (1975). Reduction of Airborne

Microorganisms by Filtering Recycled Air in a Chick Hatcher. Poultry Science,

Volume 54, Issue 2, March 1975, Pages 479–482.

Sherwood, S. (2017, April 25). What is ubiquity in microbiology. Retrieved April 14, 2019,

from Sciencing: https://sciencing.com/ubiquity-microbiology-20973.html