what could I mix together to grow microorganisms?

Question

I am interested in growing microorganisms in a 1-gallon jug. I'm going to put in some water and random plants. What could help catalyze bacteria?

Answer 1

It depends on what sort of microorganisms you wish to grow. If you'd like protists, just go to any local pond, take a sample of the water and you'll have an instant microcosm. If you're specifically interested in bacteria or fungi- all you really need to do is leave out some moist, fatty nutrient-rich substance (like milk) and soon enough mold spores (mold is a fungus, by the way) in the air will settle and grow, as will bacteria. (It's important to note that there is no such thing as "spontaneous generation" - These microorganisms will grow from air-borne spores or spores that are already present in the container / within the substance you grow them. They don't just simply generate from nothing.)

Answer 2

You need to make sure that you start with sterile water, so you can either buy deionized (aka distilled) water, or boil some drinking water. Tap water has chlorine and other chemical to *prevent* mircroorganisms' growth, so you do need to buy water. Then add a little sugar (1 teaspoon per gallon would be plenty). I don't know if you plan on introducing bacteria or not, but if you seal up the jug right away nothing will grow. You'll either have to let it sit out and collect ambient microorganisms that float around in the air, or introduce things like a Q-tip swabbed against your cheek. Your mouth has plenty of bacteria to get you started, although it is not really of the agricultural sort.

Answer 3

don't add water just get a gallon of milk and leave it on the counter for a few days (still closed and sealed of course) and you will have quiet a few microorganisms to study. You know you don't really have to grow this to study them...go to the bathroom and swab the inside of the toilet or better yet the shower floor or go into the kitchen and swab the floor...you'll find tons...of course the fun part of this is categorizing all the bacteria that you find because there will be all different types. You can grow more bacteria from the swabs in your fridge with petri dishes...if you don't have any of them just use a glass bowl with butter on the bottom...I don't know why the butter works but when I did it about a week later I had beautiful designs...round and oval shaped...all through the bowl. Okay hope that helps ya. :-D

Answer 4

i haven't much more than the others had said, but i will say it in steps:
1- Bacteria as u know are found in every place surrounding us " air, soil, water, on any un sterilized surface, etc."
2- Bacteria needs a carbon source, nitrogen source, and slightly alkaline to neutral pH " 6.5 to 7.5 " to gives a better growth.
so u can mix any residual food from your kitchen and put them to your jug and add any bacterial source " some soil, some plant leaves, hairs, nails, any thing you may think about "
3- keep your jug at room temperature for at least 18 hours.
4- after that u will have a high number of bacterial population. you may transfer them to un seeded plates " common media " and purify them to have many bacterial strains.

enjoy

be carefully, and pay very attention while dealing with bacteria from soil origin, it may be harmful...

Answer 5

V8 juice is used a lot in microbiology research.
Better use whole milk instead of water, remove plants and put this mix on petri dishes, shallow environments work better than deep ones.
It helps if you add dust or small amounts of grind dirt on petri dishes.
good luck

Answer 6

I'd say a little bit of sugar would do wonders and some starches. If you could get your hands on it some agar would be a good way to start off then transport them in.

Answer 7

Look at your hands any day. They're there, you don't see them. They are "micro organisms"

Why don't you do something useful, invent a "Universal Solvent"