Identification of an unknown bacterium report

BIO-205L Lab Report Format Guide

To write a formal lab report, follow the grading rubric provided in the digital classroom. A formal lab report should be typed, double-spaced, and in 12 pt. Times New Roman font. Treat the writing of a lab report as a take-home test. The formal lab report must be presented in the following format:

Title: Type your title in bold font and center it at the top of the page. Use the same title as the title of the lab exercise.

Example:

The Dissemination of Microbes – Tootsie Roll Lab

Aim: This is the main objective(s) of the lab.

Example: The first objective of this lab is to examine the ubiquity of microorganisms in the environment. Another objective is to evaluate the transmission of diseases from one person to another.

Materials: This section includes a list of the equipment, instruments, and cultures used in the lab activity. Format using numbers, not letters.

Example: Activity 1 – Sampling Various Environments for Presence of Microbes

Materials:

1. Two (2) trypticase soy agar (TSA) plates

2. Gloves

3. Four (4) sterile swabs

4. One (1) sterile water test tube

Methods: For this section, use numbers to describe each step of the experimental procedure in your own words.

Example:

Methods:

1. Divide petri plate 1 – inanimate sources into four sections and label them as faucet, doorknob, toilet seat, and floor. Note: Plates should always be labeled at the bottom and not on the lid. Use small letters to write along the peripheral edge and not in the center.

2. Remove the sterile swab by opening at the wooden stick end.

3. Moisten the swab in sterile water, and as you pull the swab out, press it against the walls to remove excess moisture.

4. Rub the wet swab over the selected surface and then gently swab the respective labeled sections.

5. Use separate swabs for all four sources to avoid cross contamination. The swabs can be discarded in regular trash.

6. Divide petri plate 2 – animate sources and label them as armpit, toe, hair, and face. Repeat Steps 1–5. The swabs used for animate sources should be disposed of in a biohazard bag.

7. Cover and invert plates at 37 °C for 48 hours. Note: Plates are inverted to prevent condensation of water on the lid. The water will drip on the growing microbial colonies and merge the colonies.

8. Record your results by observing the growth microbial colonies in each sector. Use Figure 1 above to analyze the form and diversity of microbial colonies.

Results: Here, the drawings, data in table layout, and graphs are recorded for each activity. In the sketches, use horizontal arrows to label and clearly point out your observations.

Discussion: You need to analyze/interpret the results for each activity in this section. Also, provide reasons to explain experimental errors if the obtained results did not match the expected results.

Conclusion: End the report with a brief paragraph explaining how the objective of the lab was accomplished by the results. Address applications of experimental findings to your personal or professional life.

Saving your file: Your lab report document file name must be the following format: "YourFullName_LabTitle" (without spaces but with capitalization).