User:Hilary H. Strong
7/7/14
Lab 3: Microbiology and Identifying Bacteria with DNA Sequences
Introduction
Methods/Materials
Procedure I: Quantifying and Observing Microorganisms
Procedure II: Antibiotic Resistance
Procedure III: Bacteria Cell Morphology Observations
Procedure IV: Set up PCR for 16s Sequencing
Data and Observations
Procedure IV: Set up PCR for 16s Sequencing
7/2/14
Lab 2: Identifying Algae and Protists
Introduction
If populations of organisms evolve as they adapt to the stresses of their environment by natural selection, then one would expect organisms to vary if the environment varies. In the Hay Infusion Culture, one would expect more photosynthetic organisms, like algae, near the top because of access to light and more protists towards the bottom.
If the bacteria are not resistant to antibiotics then there would be greater populations of bacteria in the agar than the tetracycline plates. If the bacteria are resistant to tetracycline, then they will thrive in the tetracycline plates, especially if other species they would normally compete for nutrients with are not resistant and are wiped out.
Materials/Methods
Procedure I: How to Use a Dichotomous Key
1. Prepare wet mount of known organism
2. Use dichotomous key to confirm identify of the organism
3. Record observations of organism using compound microscope with 4x, 10x, and 40x objective lenses
Procedure II: Observing Hay Infusion Culture
1. Collect Hay Infusion Culture and make initial observations 2. Prepare two wet mounts from the top and bottom of the culture respectively 3. Observe the four samples under the compound microscope and use the dichotomous key to identify four organisms
Procedure III: Preparing and Plating Serial Dilutions 1. Ready materials by labeling four tubes with sterile broth with their final concentrations as well as two sets of four nutrient plates, one set of agar, and a second of agar plus tetracycline 2. Mix up the Hay Infusion Culture to ensure a representative sample 3. Add 100 uL to the first tube, mix well 4. Move 100 uL from the first tube to the second, mix well 5. Repeat twice more, until four tubes of decreasing concentration are prepared 6. Pipette 100 uL from each tube onto each pair of corresponding plates 7. Replace the covers of the plates and flip plates then upside down 8. Set aside the plates for incubation
Data and Observations
Hay Culture Infusion: smells like mildew; appears murky with layer of mud at the bottom, some floating dirt, the opacity and brown color both increase as the depth of the sample increases
Top-down View of Hay Infusion Culture 
Straight-ahead View of Hay Infusion Culture 
Diagram of Serial Dilution of Hay Infusion Culture 
Conclusion
Paramecium is a protist which digests nutrients for energy, its cells are membrane bound with organelles to promote specialization, it has genes which encode hereditary information stored in its two nuclei, it is part of the alveolata lineage, and finally it can reproduce asexually or sexually, (Bentley et al. 2014) and (Freeman et al. 2014)
If the Hay Infusion Culture is left over time it is expected that the population of protists would waste away from lack of nutrients, while the algae would thrive, assuming they have access to light, because of their ability to photosynthesize. Additional organisms could appear as the environment continues to change.
References
Bentley, M., Zeller, N., & Walters-Conte, K. (2014). Bio210.
Freeman, S., Quillin, K., Taylor, E., Monroe, J., Allison, L., & Podgorski, G. (2014). Biological science (5th ed.). Glenview, IL: Pearson.
Ward's Natural Science Establishment, Inc. (2002). Ward's free-living protozoa [Brochure]. Rochester, NY: Author.
HHS
7/1/14
Lab 1: Biological Life at AU
Introduction
In order to better understand the diversity of ecological life continually evolving via natural selection, compare samples of three of the 9,000 or so, species that comprise the Volvocine line. Observe the similarities and differences resulting from evolution in the volvocine line, especially related to motility, sexual reproduction, organization, and specialization. Then, examine a transect of the AU campus for a macro introduction to ecology in our surroundings. Differentiate between the biotic and abiotic elements in the transect to understand the stresses placed on the populations which reside there.
Methods/Materials
Part I: The Volvocine Line 1. Prepare wet mounts of chlamydomonas and gonium 2. Observe using compound microscope 3. Prepare depression slide of volvox 4. Observe using compound microscope
Part II: Observing a Niche at AU
1. Analyze 20 by 20 meter transect
2. Observe general surroundings
3. Record notable abiotic and biotic components
4. Collect soil/surface plant sample in 50 mL conical tube
5. Prepare a Hay Infusion Culture by mixing 10-12 g of the sample, 500 mL of distilled water, 0.1 g dried milk, in plastic jar for 10 seconds
6. Remove top of Hay Infusion Culture and set aside
Data and Observations
Differences among species of the Volvocine Line.
Transect #: 5
Location-outside Hughe's Hall
Aerial View of Transect 
(Odunlami 2014)
Additional View of Transect 
(Odunlami 2014)
Topography-slightly slanted
Abiotic Factors
Stone- rocks, pebbles Other- bench
Biotic Factors
Trees-ficus, other small trees Plants- day lily, modo grass, moss, daffodils, shrubs Animals- ants
Conclusion
This transect is diverse in biotic and abiotic components and thus contains organisms of different types.
References
Bentley, M., Zeller, N., & Walters-Conte, K. (2014). Bio210.
Environmental Protection Agency. (2012, June 25). Natural resources: Plankton. Retrieved from http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/image/viz_nat6.html
Freeman, S., Quillin, K., Taylor, E., Monroe, J., Allison, L., & Podgorski, G. (2014). Biological science (5th ed.). Glenview, IL: Pearson.
Office of University Architect. (2013, August 1). American University - Main campus [Map].
Protist Infomration Server. (n.d.). Protist images: Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Retrieved July 7, 2014, from http://protist.i.hosei.ac.jp/pdb/images/chlorophyta/chlamydomonas/Euchlamydomonas/reinhardtii/sp_09.html
Odunlami, T. (2014, June 30). [Photograph].
University of New Hampshire, & Baker, A. L. (2012). Phytoplankton key - Phycokey - Volvox images. Retrieved from http://cfb.unh.edu/phycokey/Choices/Chlorophyceae/colonies/colonies_flagellated/VOLVOX/Volvox_Image_page.html
HHS
Contact Info
- Hilary H. Strong
- American University
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- Email me through OpenWetWare
I work in the Your Lab at XYZ University. I learned about OpenWetWare from Bio 210, and I've joined because To participate in Biology 210..
Education
- 2013, B.A., Vanderbilt University
Research interests
- Interest 1
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