How to Write a Lab Report in Microbiology Essay Example

How to Write a Lab Report in Microbiology Essay Example How to Write a Lab Report in Microbiology Paper How to Write a Lab Report in Microbiology Paper This should only BEA few sentences long. Example: There are many reasons for knowing the identity of microorganisms. The reasons range from the 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 as done by applying all of the methods that have been learned so far in the microbiology laboratory class for the identification of an unknown bacterium. MATERIALS AND METHODS This is where the details of the study are listed. Where did the specimen come from, and what methods were used to identify it? Be specific, but do not re write the lab manual. One way is to mention the names of the materials used and reference the lab manual for the procedure or method and then continue to elaborate when necessary. See example 1. Example 1: An unknown labeled as letter G was given out by the lab instructor. The methods that have been earned thus far for identifying bacteria have been applied to this unknown. Procedures were followed as stated in the course laboratory manual by De Mere (1), unless otherwise noted. The first procedure that needed to be done was to streak the unknown out on a Triplicate Soy Agar plate, using the T streak method described in the lab manual.. This needed to be done in order to test the purity of the unknown. After the plates were incubated and grown, the morphology was observed and recorded and a Gram stain was performed. Quality control bacteria were Gram stained along with the unknown to make sure that the Gram stain action was done correctly . After determining the Gram reaction, specific biochemical tests were performed. The biochemical tests were chosen from the unknown identification tables that were in the lab manual. Since unknown G was determined to be a Gram negative rod, an oxides test was performed and the organism was inoculated into a BCC lactose tube. Note all of these tests were performed by the methods listed in the lab manual by De Mere (1). Table 1 lists the test, purpose, reagents and results. All of the following tests were performed on this unknown: 1. Oxides test 2. BCC Lactose 3. Indolent 4. HAS 5. Citrate . Motility 7. Methyl Red 8. Urea Another way is to write out the methods in detail in either a paragraph form or listed. This way is not necessary for this type of paper, since this is lab report for the identification of an unknown bacterium and the methods are explained in detail in the lab manual. If there is a procedure that the instructor added or made changes to, or the student used another procedure not in the course lab manual, then it should be written out and referenced. See some of the examples of papers identifying an unknown from the web sited below. RESULTS This is where the results are summarized. The method results should be in a table format (see examples below). This is also where the flow chart showing how you arrived at the answer is stated. A short paragraph explaining how the results are presented can be included. Example: Unknown G had the following morphology on a TTS plate: medium sized opaque cream colored colony. After determining that it was a Gram negative rod, an oxides test was performed and it was inoculated into a BCC lactose tube and onto a TTS slant. Table I lists all of the biochemical tests, their purpose and results. The results are also shown in a flow chart form. Example: Table 1: Biochemical Test Results TEST PURPOSE REAGENTS OBSERVATIONS RESULTS Gram stain To determine the Gram reaction of the bacterium Crystal violet, Iodine, Alcohol, Seafaring Pink rods Gram negative rods Oxides test To determine the presence of stockroom c Oxides paper Purple / black color change Positive oxides test BCC Lactose To determine the ability of a bacterium to ferment a specific carbohydrate None Color change from purple to yellow lactose ferment Indolent Test To determine the ability of an organism to split indolent from troposphere Kavas added to 1 ml of Trenton broth Red Ring at top f broth indolent test ETC. Another type of table: Table 1: Physiological and Biochemical Results TEST REAGENTS OR MEDIA TEMP OBSERVATIONS RESULTS INTERPRETATIONS Citrate Citrate slant (green) ICC Color changed from green to blue Positive Organism is able to utilize citrate as a carbon source Methyl Red MRS.. ICC After adding methyl red to one ml, color changed from light yellow to a darker yellow Negative Organism is not able to produce large amounts of acid from glucose fermentation FLOWCHART UNKNOWN G Gram stain Gram negative Rod Oxides test (positive) Positive Negative Cacciatore friendlier Protests vulgarism Interacted arrogates Protests miracles Escherichia coli Seriate marches Kielbasa exotica Moreland inorganic Kielbasa pneumonia Pseudonymous originals Pseudonymous refinances Indolent test ( Positive) Escherichia coli Cacciatore friendlier Kielbasa exotica Interacted arrogates Citrate Test (negative) Kielbasa exotica Escherichia coli Motility Test (positive) Escherichia coli Methyl Red Test (positive) Unknown B Escherichia coli DISCUSSION / CONCLUSION This section interprets the meaning of the results. The following questions should be answered here: How did the test result lead to identification? Was it the correct identification? If not, why not. What problems were encountered? This is also where the background information on the organism (environment/ pathogenic) that was identified is mentioned. Example of a discussion: After several differential tests, it was concluded that unknown G was Escherichia coli. After performing the Gram stain to determine that the unknown was a Gram negative rod, the organism was grown on a TTS slant for use in inoculating the rest of the biochemical tests. All of the biochemical tests worked well except for the indolent test. It gave a false negative result at first.