Unknown Identification Lab Report

568 Words3 Pages

The Unknown Identification Lab was an experiment that provided the opportunity to apply all the tests that were learned in the semester of lab, to identify the two bacterias that remain unknown. Gram- staining and two other tests will be used to identify the unknowns. This experiment is crucial to the understanding of each test, and can benefit in the ability to identify the characteristics of specific bacteria. Having a clearer understanding of the bacteria can further the research of bacteria for medicine, such as antibiotics. The understanding can also help the development of research in the environment. For example, more studies and a deeper knowledge of bacteria could lead to the reduce the amount of pollution. Bacteria is present everywhere …show more content…

For example, Clostridium botulinum can cause an issue in can foods. By knowing the previous information, one can avoid certain cans and prevent sickness. Each bacteria has specific characteristics that is unique to the certain strain, which makes identification possible. This Unknown Identification Lab was performed in a series of three days. The lab contained the following tests: Gram-staining, Blood Agar Plate, Mannitol Salt Agar, Levine Eosin Methylene Blue Plate, and Hektoen Enteric Agar Plate. “ Christian Gram was the one who tried to develop the procedure of Gram staining by attempting to create a way to differentiate stains of schizomycetes from the other tissue cells”(Bartholomew).The Gram-staining was used to determine the morphology of the bacteria by using the cell wall structure. When the bacteria is viewed under a microscope, morphology was seen. Bacteria can have one of the three basic morphologies. The bacteria was cocci, rod, or spirilla morphology. If the result of the bacteria is purple, the bacteria has a thick peptidoglycan layer. This also means the bacteria is gram-positive. If the bacteria is pink, the bacteria has a thin peptidoglycan layer and is gram-negative. The gram-positive bacteria will likely be cocci, also known as a rounded