Kelsey Nolte
Microbiology
Otero Junior College
Mr. McClure
Fall Semester 2014
Unknown Report
Introduction
The definition of Microbiology is the branch of science that deals with microorganisms. Microorganisms are very small organisms that require the use of a micro scope to visualize them, which are bacterium, viruses, fungi (the most common) and others which are not so common such as parasites. Microorganisms are an essential element to the field of microbiology because it allows researchers in the field to find specific illness caused by a specific organism, cures for illnesses, medicine, history of an organism, and the epidemiology of an organism.
In the year 1665 an English scientist, Robert Hooke built the microscope and observed slices of cork and came up with the name cells to describe the arrangement of small box spaces within the cork. It wasn’t until Anton van Leeuwenhoek, that observed living organisms under a microscope, which he built and had a power of 300X. Leeuwenhoek was amazed by the fact of being able to view “animalcules”; he would sab a sample of water making people sick and samples of his own mouth. Over the years he would have viewed all the major organisms of microbiology, such as; protozoa, algae, yeast, fungi and bacteria in spherical, rod and spiral shapes. Leeuwenhoek did not sell his microscope or foster the development/ study of microbiology It was not until the later scientists who discovered the germ theory(Theodor Schwann), Redi,
There are many differents ways to identify a bacterial unknown and many different situations where identification would be beneficial. One way to identify bacterial unknowns is to perform biochemical tests. In this experiment multiple biochemical tests were done, by performing these tests on the bacterial unknown received the two different bacteria were then identified. The citrate test is done to test the ability of organisms to use citrate as a carbon source. This test uses Simmons citrate agar, the agar contains sodium citrate as the only carbon source and has bromothymol blue as the pH indicator. The organisms that use citrate as a carbon source use the enzyme to transport the citrate into the cell. The cells converts ammonium dihydrogen
There are many reasons for knowing the identity of microorganisms. The reasons range from knowing the causative agent of a disease in a patient, so as to know how it can be treated, to knowing the correct microorganism to be used for making certain foods or antibiotics. This study was done by applying all of the methods that I have been learned so far in the microbiology laboratory class for the identification of an unknown bacterium.
Citrobacter Freundii is a species of bacteria that can be potentially harmful to humans. It is known to cause meningitis by protruding into the brain and replicating itself (1). The Citrobacter species has also been found as a cause of some urinary tract infections, diarrhea, and even gastrointestinal diseases and symptoms (3). C. Freundii can be located in a wide variety of soils and water (3). Lastly, it is also the cause of many nosocomial infections due to its presence in water (1).
The purpose of the following study is to determine where the two unknown bacteria acquired in Microbiology lab should be classified in regards to temperature, pH level, and osmoregularity. It is important to classify bacteria in order to identify them. Identification of bacteria is important because they are not only useful but potentially dangerous as well. The identification of bacteria can lead to breakthroughs in healthcare regarding treatment of old and new diseases alike. Identifying bacteria can also be used in many other areas from better crop production through microbial pesticides to biological warfare. Their uses are endless as are their abilities to evolve and adapt to changing environments. That is why it is so important
Microorganisms are both beneficial and harmful. These microorganisms are important to humans because they play a role in the ecology of life, by decomposing wastes, both natural and man-made, such as creating nitrogen fertilizer at the root zones of certain crops. Other several pathogens that can cause serious harm, even immediate death due to the diseases or disease causing products they produce. Overall, microorganisms play an important role in life.
Since microorganisms are not visible to the eye, the essential tool in microbiology is the microscope. One of the first to use a microscope to observe microorganisms was Robert Hooke, the English biologist who observed algae and fungi in the 1660s. In the 1670s, “Anton van Leeuwenhoek, a Dutch merchant, constructed a number of simple microscopes and observed details of numerous forms of protozoa, fungi, and bacteria” (Introduction to Microscopes, n.d.). During the 1700s, microscopes were used to further explore on the microbial world, and by the late 1800s, the light microscope had been developed. “The electron microscope was developed in the 1940s, thus
Our world has changed dramatically since the day Antoine van Leeuwenhoek discovered microorganisms in 1676 using a simple microscope. In early days, scientists first thought life arose from inanimate materials. This theory, known as abiogenesis or spontaneous generation, was disproved later on by scientists including Lazarro Spallanzani and Louis Pasteur. The experiments conducted by these scientists showed that living things could only arise from preexisting life, or biogenesis. All life begins with a living cell, composing of five required components. These components are DNA, RNA, cell membrane, ribosome, and cytoplasm. As more investigations on bacteria were conducted, scientists were able to acquire a deeper knowledge of the microbiology and pathology of animals, plants, and humans.
After many performed test such as the API 20E test strip, motility test, inoculated plates, gram stain, an identification flow chart which began with the results from an indole, MR, VP, and citrate test. This amongst many other test. These results brought the conclusion of my unknown culture to be Escherichia coli, my unknown number was 11.
On June 25th, 2015 I chose the test tube labeled #19. This test tube contained an unknown bacterium, and the purpose was to determine the unknown bacterium by the end of the semester. Throughout the course, I ran a series of differential tests that would lead me to discovering the characteristics of my unknown. These tests that I will discuss in this paper are vital to understanding the biochemical mechanisms that different bacteria can perform, therefore helping me identify my bacterium based on molecular differences. During the course of this paper, I will refer to my unknown as unk#19. Also, I would note that aseptic technique was performed throughout the entire experiment and subcultures were regularly made.
They’re out there! We can’t see them in our naked eyes but they can see us. They are living on and in our bodies, and there is nothing we can do about it! They are microorganisms. Microorganisms can thrive everywhere. They also live inside the bodies of both plants and animals. In “Discovery of Germs”, Reynolds says that Anton Van Leeuwenhoek was the first scientist who discovered microorganisms in 1675 with the development of the microscope. This discovery has paved the way for scientists to do more exploration in this field. Although some people claim that microorganisms cause fatal diseases for human beings, most scientists and people consider this discovery as a guide to resolve the germs mysterious that may lead to eradicate some diseases,.
Living cells are the most basic unit of life, however, they are impossible to see without the magnification of a microscope. There are different types of microscopes with alterations to serve a specific function, but the general use is the same. It is a tool invented with a curved lense that magnifies things that cannot be seen with the naked eye. A microscope can be used to see many things, in this particular lab they were used to observe cells of different organisms. We began by looking at a few sample slides of euglena, salmonella, and lilium and recording our observations. Then we created the slides ourselves with living matter. The first set of cells that we looked at were onion cells, which we looked at by gathering a sample of onion epidermis from one of the onion’s layers and creating a slide to be placed on the stage of the microscope. Next, we took a look at human cheek cells by obtaining a sample and again creating a slide by swabbing the inside of a mouth with a toothpick. Finally, we looked at pond water by creating a slide with a small amount that was collected in a dropper.
A Microbiology department deals with micro-organisms. These microorganisms are too small and they can only be seen by microscopes. A micro-organism is smaller than a red blood cell and they are the oldest form of life on earth.
A microbiome is all of the genetic material found within an individual microbe such as a bacterium, fungal cell or virus. It may also refer to the group of genetic material found in a community of microbes that live together. Furthermore, a microbiome also refers to a set of microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi and viruses that live in a particular environment mostly the human body such as the skin or the gastrointestinal tract.
Microorganism means small organism which is often referred to as a microbe. A microbe is a single-cell organism which is so tiny that millions can fit into the eye of a needle. Microbes are known to be the oldest form of live on Earth, they can live individually or cluster together in communities. Microbes live everywhere. Anywhere you can think of, microbes live. They can be found in the air, soil, water and are present in and on our own body. Microbes are also known to live at temperatures less than -20 degrees Celsius to temperatures hotter than the boiling point.
Anton van Leeuwenhoek was a Dutch scientist who was named the father of microbiology. He was the first person to look at living cells and bacteria under a slightly more advanced single-lens microscope in 1676 and 1683.