For instance, will the blood stained clothes a butcher wears, continue to harvest bacteria even if he (hypothetically) does not get more blood or new bacteria into his clothes?
2007-02-16 06:45:45 · 3 answers · asked by bahhumbug07 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
Nearly everything has a bit of organic matter on it from dust etc. Combine that with a bit of moisture and some bacteria can live.
Clothing is however usually organic (cotton, wool, silk, leather etc) and there may be enough nutrients there for some bacteria to grow given just a tiny bit of water. Some of the synthetic fibers such as nylon even can be used as food by some specialized (but rare) bacteria.
Clothing in general also usually has dead skin cells, sweat etc from our bodies and that is enough organic matter for bacteria to live on.
As for not geting new bacteria on an article of clothing. That is just about impossible outside of a clean room or a sterilized box. I seriously doubt any clothing that touches bare skin can be kept bacteria free. (regardless of how much the person just washed).
2007-02-16 07:36:24 · answer #1 · answered by Dr Fred 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Blood is organic material - so your example doesn't fit your question.
There are plenty of bacteria that are photosynthetic, and therefore produce their own organic material to survive. - Therefore, yes!
2007-02-16 06:51:22 · answer #2 · answered by sam c 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I doesn't take much for bacteria to grow...in your example , yes it will continue to grow!
2007-02-16 06:54:11 · answer #3 · answered by The Cheminator 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋