I am doing a biology project for school and I was growing bacteria from my hands in a culture dish. I restricted access to oxygen for one of my petri dishes, but the bacteria colonies are still growing. Either I did it wrong, or there are anaerobes on our skin, right?
2007-11-22 08:46:54 · 4 answers · asked by kiddo 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
Sorry, I meant I removed the oxygen from a closed container by the use of a candle. I didn't mean restricted.
2007-11-22 09:26:55 · update #1
Some bacteria can grow both aerobically and anaerobically. Obligate anaerobes can only grow anaerobically. Once you identify the growth, see if they are obligate. If they are, then there is contamination. If not, then you have collected anaerobes from your skin.
2007-11-22 09:02:43 · answer #1 · answered by Labsci 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think you may have done it wrong. It really depends on several things you have said.
If by anaerobes you mean obligatory anaerobes, then it is doubtful you have them on your skin.
If you mean facilitative anaerobes ( one that can exist in the presence of reduced oxygen) then there are some possibilities.
You say you 'restricted' oxygen from one of the petri dishes, this is not anaerobiosis. Anaerobic means complete, or almost complete, absence of oxygen. If you have not achieved this then you don't have anaerobiosis.
I think there is a safety guideline problem with this experiment, if this is NOT an A level project. Please be careful!
Originally "path labs" created anaerobiosis by evacuating all the air from the container; then introduced hydrogen into the container which contained a catalyst of platinised asbestos.
You can see some of the problems.
2007-11-22 17:13:21 · answer #2 · answered by beech7wood2000 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes. you have what is called facultative anaerobes which grow in both aerobic and anaerobic conditions.
2007-11-22 18:58:00 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
ur right >>>>God Is Love :)
2007-11-22 17:04:38 · answer #4 · answered by help 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋