Culturing Microorganisms PDF

Culturing Microorganisms (1.1.6 - Biology Only) Microorganisms are very small, so in order for scientists to study them they need to grow many of them in the lab using nutrients (culturing them) The culture medium contains carbohydrates for ener...

Culturing Microorganisms (1.1.6 - Biology Only) Microorganisms are very small, so in order for scientists to study them they need to grow many of them in the lab using nutrients (culturing them) The culture medium contains carbohydrates for energy, minerals, proteins and vitamins. There are two ways to grow microorganisms in the lab: 1. In nutrient broth solution- involves making a suspension of bacteria to be grown and mixing with sterile nutrient broth (the culture medium), stoppering the flask with cotton wool to prevent air from contaminating it and shaking regularly to provide oxygen for the growing bacteria. 2. On an agar gel plate- the agar acts as the culture medium, and bacteria grown on it form colonies on the surface. Making the plate: Hot sterilised agar jelly is poured into a sterilised Petri dish, which is left to cool and set Wire loops called inoculating loops are dipped in a solution of the microorganism and spread over the agar evenly A lid is taped on and the plate is incubated for a few days so the microorganisms can grow (stored upside down) Culturing Microorganisms 1