MICROORGANISMS FROM

THE ENVIRONMENT
Microbiology and Parasitology Lab
ACTIVITY 6
GROUP 1
OBJECTIVES

a. cultivate and study some forms of

microorganisms utilizing proper aseptic technique.
b. discuss the relationship of dust to health and
sanitation.
MATERIALS

• 7 sterile petri dishes

• Sterile nutrient agar
• Water bath
PROCEDURE

1. Melt nutrient agar in a water bath and cool to approximately 45°C.

2. Into each sterile petri dish, pour about 15-20 ml nutrient agar
following aseptic technique.
3. Upon solidification of the medium, label dishes A, B, C, D, E, F,
& G.
a. Remove cover and allow standing for 30 minutes inside the
laboratory room then covering the plate.
b. Remove cover and cough directly into the agar surface 2 to 3 times
then cover the plate.
PROCEDURE

d. Remove cover and rub tips of your fingers over the surface of the
agar then cover the plate.
e. Remove cover and expose the plate for 30 minutes inside the
comfort room, then cover the plate.
f. Open the petri dish and pass it over the hair, then cover.

4. Incubate the plates in an inverted position at 37°C. Make your

observation after three days. After observing leave your cultures
for next activity.
RESULTS AND OBSERVATIONS
• Incubate the plates in an inverted position at 37°C. Make your observation
after three days. After observing leave your cultures for next activity.
• Write your observation in a tabulation form.
PETRI DISHES COLONIES SIZE COLOR SHAPE TEXTURE
A 3 COLONIES MEDIUM OPAQUE ROUND MOIST
B 1 COLONY SMALL TRANSLUCENT ROUND MOIST
C 1 COLONY MEDIUM OPAQUE ROUND DRY
D 2 COLONIES MEDIUM YELLOW ROUND DRY
E 9 COLONIES SMALL & YELLOW ROUND AND DRY
MEDIUM FILAMENTOUS
F 5 COLONIES MEDIUM YELLOW ROUND DRY
G
GUIDE QUESTIONS

1. DO YOU SEE GROWTH IN ALL PETRI DISHES? WHY?

 All except petri dish g. Petri dish G was not exposed to the
environment around it making the growth in the bacteria absent. While
the other petri dish was exposed to the environment around it like the
air, our cough, from the fingertips, dust, and hair.

2. WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF PETRI DISH G? IF ANY GROWTH

OCCURS ON THIS PLATE, WHAT DO YOU THINK THIS SUGGEST?
 If any growth occurs on this plate, it means that something went wrong
while preparing for the culture because it must be free of
microorganisms since it was untouched. If any growth has occurred in
petri dish G, that means that the culture is not sterile and would affect
the comparison of growth of the bacteria in the other petri dishes.
GUIDE QUESTIONS
3. OF WHAT PRACTICAL IMPORTANCE ARE AIR BORNE MICROORGANISMS TO
THE LABORATORY WORKERS?
 Airborne particles are a major cause of respiratory ailments of humans, causing
allergies, asthma, and pathogenic infections of the respiratory tract. Airborne
fungal spores are also important agents of plant disease, and the means for
dissemination of many common saprotrophic (saprophytic) fungi.
4. WHAT PRECAUTIONS SHOULD BE TAKEN TO CONTROL LABORATORY
CONTAMINANTS?
 Wearing proper protective equipment are the most significant thing to remember
in a laboratory area. It is important because we can avoid contamination and also
protect ourselves from possible spills from our specimens and chemicals, next is
to clean and sterilize our equipment this is important because we don’t want to
contamination within our work environment, and lastly is to stay organized when
working in a experiment being organized is too important to reduce the risk of
our sample to be contaminated.
GUIDE QUESTIONS
5. WHY ARE PETRI DISHES INCUBATED IN AN INVERTED POSITION?
 To reduce the chance of contamination from airborne particles falling on them
and to avoid the accumulation of water condensation that might disrupt or
compromise a culture, petri dishes must be incubated upside-down.
6. OF WHAT ADVANTAGE IS THE USING A SOLID AND A LIQUID MEDIUM?
SOLID MEDIUM LIQUID MEDIUM
• Solid medium is useful for isolating • Liquid medium is convenient to use for
bacteria and for determining the colony growing bacteria in test tubes and can
characteristics of the isolate. reveal information about the oxygen
• Agar is most commonly used to prepare requirements of bacteria growing within.
solid media. It has physical structure and • Liquid media tend to be used when a large
allows bacteria to grow in physically number of bacteria have to be grown.
informative or useful ways. • Inoculating in the liquid medium also helps
• Bacteria may be identified by studying the to dilute any inhibitors of bacterial
colony character. Also, Mixed bacteria can growth. This is the practical approach in
be separated. blood cultures.
CONCLUSION

In conclusion, using aseptic technique in cultivating microbes will

help us prevent from contamination of specific microbes, room and
personnel that we are working with. Their relationship to one
another is that dust also contains microbes such as bacteria, virus
and fungi that will somehow be the cause of infectious disease or
bacterial disease to some humans. We call them as cytotoxic
microbes they damage the human cell causing illnesses or allergies.
In connection to sanitation, keeping our surroundings clean and
keeping it ventilated will help for at least prevent these diseases
and allergies coming from the dust.
 DAHAM, FATIMA ALIYA
DICHUASIDO, SIMON KYLE
JINGCO, ALDRISCHE TYRONNE
MAGNAYE, ALDREN DICK
MORONES, CHRISTIAN EDWARD