Question 1: Was any growth observed on the control plate? What would growth on the control plate indicate about the aseptic technique used? How might it affect interpretation of results obtained from the fomite samples collected? Describe another situation in which it would be desirable to use aseptic technique.
Question 2: Were individual colonies distinguishable on any of the plates? If so, which? Describe the appearance of the colonies and count how many colonies were in each quadrant on each plate. Need Assignment Help?
Question 3: Which fomite sample provided the most abundant growth? Which provided the greatest number of different types of microbial growth? Did these results match those predicted?
Question 4: What microbial types are likely to be present in each of your fomite samples? Of these, which is/ are most likely to grow on the nutrient agar medium used in this investigation? Which is/ are probably not culturable under the conditions used? Explain your answers.
Question 5: Although macroscopic observations of microbial growth can provide much valuable information, microbiologists often follow such observations with microscopic analysis. What information might one learn by using a microscope? What are some additional factors to test in trying to identify an unknown microbe obtained from the environment?