Emma ‘Aim: To study the effect of nutrients on the growth of microorganisms Problem: What is the effect of nutrients on the growth of yeast? Hypothesis: Yeast grow and multiplies more easily when nutrients are present. Variables: © Manipulated variable: The presence or absence of nutrients # Responding variable _: The growth of yeast * Fixed variable : Temperature, pH, humidity, light intensity Operational definition: Respiration of yeast produces carbon dioxide which will turn lime water milky. Therefore, the growth of yeast is defined operationally as the cloudiness of the lime water. Materials: Yeast suspension, glucose, distilled water, lime water ‘Apparatus: Boiling tube fitted with a stopper carrying a delivery tube, test tube Procedure: + glucose solution + distiled water Lime water Seta Set Figure 1.14 Set-up of the apparatus 1. Two sets of apparatus are prepared as shown in Figure 1.14. 2. Any changes to the lime water are observed. Observatior 1. After a few minutes, the yeast suspension in set A turns frothy. Gas bubbles are released which turn the lime water milky. 2, No changes are observed in set B during the same period. Discussion: 1. Glucose is a nutrient to yeast. Yeast breaks down glucose to obtain energy, producing carbon dioxide at the same time. 2. There is no activity of yeast in set B because distilled water does not contain any nutrients. Conclusion: Microorganisms grow and multiply faster when nutrients are present. The hypothesis is accepted.ExSncua 1.2 ‘Aim: To study the effect of humidity on the growth of microorganisms Problem: How does humidity affect the growth of bread moulds? : Bread moulds grow and multiply faster when there is humidity. Hypothe: Variables: + Manipulated variable: Humidity (the presence or absence of moisture) * Responding variable: The growth of bread moulds * Fixed variable : Temperature, pH, light intensity, the amount and type of nutrients Materials: Two slices of fresh bread, transparent plastic bag, cellophane tape Procedure: 1. Two slices of fresh bread are obtained. 2. One slice of bread is placed under the hot sun for a few hours to dry it. 3. Another slice of bread is put into a transparent plastic bag. The open end of the bag is sealed with cellophane tape. 4. Both slices of bread are kept in a drawer for one week. 5. After a week, the slices of bread are observed and observations are recorded. Caution: Wash your hands with soap after the experiment. Observation: Sealed plastic bog + f— Bread in plastic bag Figure 1.15 1. There are moulds on the bread which is sealed in a plastic bag. 2, There are no moulds on the bread which has been dried. Discussic 1. The bread which is sealed in a plastic bag remains moist. Moulds grow on the bread due to presence of humidity, 2. No moulds grow on the dried bread because moulds cannot grow when there is no moisture. Conclusion: Microorganisms grow well under humid conditions. The hypothesis is accepted.1.3 ‘Aim: To study the effect of light on the growth of bread moulds Problem: How does light affect the growth of bread moulds? Hypothesis: Bread moulds grow and multiply faster in darkness Variables: ‘+ Manipulated variable: Presence or absence of light * Responding variable: The growth of bread moulds * Fixed variable Temperature, pH, nutrients Operational definition: ‘When bread mould is actively growing, it produces more colonies of bread mould to turn bread mouldy. In this experiment, the rate of growth of bread mould is defined operationally as the area of bread covered by bread moulds. Materials: Two slices of fresh bread, Apparatus: Table lamp, Petri dishes Procedure: 1. Two Petri dishes are labelled as A and 8. 2. A slice of fresh bread is put in Petri dish A and Petri dish B respectively. 3. Set A is put under bright light from a table lamp. 4, Set B is kept in a cupboard. 5. After a week, observations are made on the two slices of bread. The observations are recorded. Observations: No bread mould —Bread mould Under bright ight Inthe cupboard Figure 1.16 Discussion: 1, Bread moulds grow rapidly in the dark. 2. Bread moulds do not grow in the presence of bright light. Conch o Microorganisms grow well in the dark. The hypothesis is accepted.Aim: To study the effect of temperature on the growth of microorganisms Problem: How does temperature affect the growth of bacteria? Hypothesis: Bacteria grow well in a temperature of 37°C. Variables: * Manipulated variable : Temperature * Responding variable: The growth of bacteria (Bacillus subtilis) * Fixed variable Light intensity, humidity, pH, the amount and type of nutrients Operational defi When bacteria grow in a nutrient agar, the nutrient agar will have white spots, Therefore, the growth of bacteria here is defined operationally as the number of white spots on the nutrient agar. Materials: Nutrient agar, culture of bacteria (Bacillus subtilis), cellophane tape 3 Petri dish, oven Wear gloves when carrying out the experiment. Remember to wash your hands before and after the experiment. eS>-- SS br 1, Three Petri dishes containing nutrient agar are labellad as A, B and C. 2. 1 cm’ of bacteria culture solution is poured onto the agar in each Petri dish. 3. The Petri dish is covered and sealed with cellophane tape. 4, The Petri dish is overturned. 5. Set A is put in a refrigerator. 6. Set B is placed in an oven at a temperature of 37°C. 7. Set C is placed in an oven at a temperature of 65°C. 8. Alter two days, the Pet and recorded. Observation: me ‘No spot set Set C Figure 1.18 Discussion: es are taken out. The appearance of nutrient agar in each Petri dish is observed | 1. Set A has no white spots, showing no bacterial growth because the temperature is too low. Bacteria are _ inactive at low temperatures. 2. Set B has many white spots, showing colonies of bacteria as bacteria grow well at a temperature of 37°C. 3. Sect C has no bacteria as the temperature is too high for the bacteria to grow. Conclusion Bacteria grow well at a temperature of 37°C. The hypothesis is accepted. rece alEZSLoua 15 : To study the effect of pH on the growth of microorganisms Problem: How does pH affect the growth of bacteria? Hypothesis: Bacteria grow well in a neutral medium. Variable * Manipulated variable: pH * Responding variable: The growth of bacteria * Fixed variable : Light intensity, humidity, temperature, the amount and type of nutrients Operational defini When bacteria grow in a nutrient agar, the nutrient agar will have white spots. Therefore, the growth of bacteria here is defined operationally as the number of white spots on the nutrient agar. Materials: Nutrient agar, hydrochloric acid, sodium hydroxide, distilled water, culture of bacteria (Bacillus subtilis) Apparatus: Petri dish Procedure: 1. Three Petri dishes containing nutrient agar are labelled as A, B and C. 2, Five drops of hydrochloric acid are added to set A 3. Five drops of sodium hydroxide are added to set 8. 4, Five drops of distilled water are added to set C. 5. Using a sterile glass rod, some culture of Bacillus subtilis are transferred into each Petri dish. 6. The Petri dishes are covered immediately and sealed. 7. All the Petri dishes are overturned and kept in a cupboard in the laboratory. 8. After two days, the Petri dishes are taken out. The appearance of each nutrient agar is observed and recorded, ion: Observations: ° OA white spot No white spot ‘No white spot bose ceo ° Seta setB Set Figure 1.19 Discussion: 1, The white spots are colonies of bacteria. 2. In acidic and alkaline conditions, bacteria do not grow easily. Hence the nutrient agar in sets A and B has no white spots. 3. Bacteria grow well in neutral conditions. Hence, there are many white spots which are bacterial colonies on nutrient agar of set C. Conclusion: Bacteria grow well in neutral conditions. The hypothesis is accepted.Aim: To study the effects of antibiotics on bacteria Problem: How does the concentration of an antibiotic affect the growth of bacteria? Hypothesis: A more concentrated antibiotic has a greater effect on the growth of bacteria than a less concentrated one. Variable Manipulated variable: Concentration of antibiotic Responding variable: The area of bacteria-free zone Fixed variable The nutrient agar used, temperature, pH Operational definition: Areas which are clear indicate that there is no growth of bacteria in those particular areas. Hence, antibiotics can be defined operationally as chemicals which cause clear areas on nutrient agar. Nutrient agar, culture of Bacillus subtilis, penicillin solution of concentrations 10% and 20%, distilled Apparatus: Autoclave, Petri dish, inoculation loop, discs of filter paper, cellophane tape, labelling paper Procedure: oui Wear gloves while carrying out this experiment. 1. Three Petri dishes of nutrient agar are prepared and sterilised in an autoclave. Caution: Handle the culture of Bacillus subtilis with care. | 2. 1m’ of Bacillus subtilis bacteria culture solution is poured onto the nutrient agar shown in Figure 1.33(a). The agar is then covered. ‘Nutrient agar G Disc of fiter paper @ o Figure 1.33 Setup of apparatus3. The edge of each Petri dish is sealed with cellophane tape. 4. ‘The Petri dishes are kept in a incubator at about 37°C for two days to allow the bacteria to grow until the whole surface of the agar appears cloudy. 3. The Petri dishes are taken out and labelled as A, B and C. 6. Two discs of filter paper that have been moistened with distilled water are placed on the surface of nutrient agar in Petri dish A as shown in Figure 1.33(b), 7. For Petri dish B, two discs of filter paper that have been moistened with 10% penicillin are placed 8. For Petri dish C, two discs of filter paper that have been moistened with 20% penicillin are placed. 9. The Petri dishes are kept in the incubator for two days. 10. After two days, the Petri dishes ate taken out and observed. 11. All the observations are recorded. sae Wash your hands thoroughly with soap after carrying out this experiment. Observation: Dise of fiter {| paper soaked in \\ 20% penicitin Petri dish B Pott ash © Figure 1.34 Discussion: 1. There is no clear zone around the discs of filter paper moistened with distilled water. 2. The areas of clear zones around the discs moistened with 20% penicillin solution are larger compared to those moistened with 10% penicillin solution. 3. A stronger antibiotic kills more bacteria. Conclusion: ‘A more concentrated antibiotic affects the growth of bacteria more than a less concentrated one. The hypothesis is accepted.