Lab Readings, Assignments, and Handouts

New postings will be added to the top.  check regularly.

For October 22: One way bacteria obtain more nutrients from the environment, and a way that fungi obtain most of theirs, is through breakdown of polymers into low molecular weight substances. Using soil samples on hand as well as the Winogradsky column, we will inoculate several media to investigate this. A brief handout is prepared. Since we are studying Protists in lecture, we will do wet mounts of pond water and look for protozoa. We will also check our soil dilutions to see if we can count fungi.

For October 20:  We will investigate fungi.  We have some prepared slides to look at. We may make some wet mounts of fungi to look at as well. We will also do an exercise designed to count the number of fungi in soil. To do this, we will use a procedure similar to the Hamburger one where we will mix a weighed portion of soil in water, do a series of dilutions, then do pour plating. The basics of this exercise is on pp 274-276 in your Lab Manual as well as other information on fungi (pp 74-75; 311-319).

For October 15: We will be investigating microbial diversity a little bit. To do this, we will build a Winogradsky column. Read the linked handout.  This will not take a long time. After this, Corey will lead a help session on Excel.

For October 13: You have an exam.

For October 8:  Bacterial motility. We will look at 2 different methods for determining if bacteria can swim. You will get to practice aseptic technique and microscopy in the process. Pages in the lab manual: pp 100-103; 177-180; 198-199.

For October 6: Lecture on gene exchange. See Lecture Powerpoints.

For October 1: We count the hamburger plates.  You have read all that you need. We may discuss the missed lecture (Monday) while you are waiting to take your turn counting.

For September 29: We will do the Hamburger experiment. Carefully read the linked Handout for all the background and instructions. There are also some very relevant pages in your lab manual that you should read: pp 10-12; 23-25; 40-41; 217-221; 224-225. Bring your Dilution Problem/Growth Problem worksheet to lab and your calculator.

For September 24: We will cover two important topics: Culture media and dilutions (an important mathematic application). Dilutions will be handled with a worksheet we will work on in class. I will lecture on culture media, then you will make some culture media yourself in a process similar to pp 10-12 in your Lab Manual. These media will be used for your next major experiment on September 29. Additional readings in your manual include: pp 40-41, pp 193-194, and skim through pp 107-125.

For September 22:  You had an exam.

For September 17: We will be talking about anaerobic growth methods and how to determine whether a bacterium can grow anaerobically. We will mostly use demonstrations. Several pages in your lab manual deal with this general issue. Please read: pp 42-48; 131-140; 145-148.  Pages 337-344 show the various metabolic pathways we have been discussing in lecture.

For September 15:  We will work with an enzyme. Carefully read this handout. You should review everything associated with experimental design and spectrophotometry from previous reading assignments. Re: lysozyme lab, check this out. Also, MAJOR GOOF! Lysozyme data E - H is to be used. Somehow I wrote E-G instead.

For September 10: We will have a Powerpoint lecture (see Powerpoints page). Our hands-on activity will be the Capsule stain.  Read this handout for some basic information and procedure. Additionally, you should review appropriate sections of your Lab Manual: pp 84-85 on negative stains, pp 95-96 on one version of the capsule stain, and http://aem.asm.org/cgi/reprint/57/6/1858.pdf.

For September 8: The Lysozyme Experiment will be performed. This requires a moderate amount of preparation. A Handout explains what you are doing and why. There is also some important reading in the Manual. Review the pages on Experimental Design (starting on p 5). Also, read the following:
About osmotic pressure  pp 53-54
Pipets and pipettors Appx C & D pp 349-356
Spectrophotometry pp 357-359. Also, read this handout on spectrophotometry.

For September 3: Lab Manual pp 86-90; Review microscopy if necessary.

For August 27: Lab Manual pp 13-19; 63-68; 77-83;

For August 25:  Safety Procedures Compare with pages 1-5 in your Lab Manual. The lab and its purpose will be introduced and you will become acquainted with some of the tools you will use.
Read pages 5-8 on graphs and experiments.