Culturing microbial populations

Streak plate technique

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Learn how to prepare a streak plate by following a stepwise virtual lab protocol. Explore good aseptic techniques and how to achieve the optimal streak technique.

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Learning outcomes

Familiarise yourself with the equipment required to prepare a streak plate.
Outline the key steps of making a streak plate and understand the reasoning behind each step.
Identify single colonies growing on a streak plate for further analysis.

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Skills

Using Instruments and Equipment

What equipment is required to streak bacteria on an agar plate
Why plates should be labelled on their base and what it should detail
How to flame the neck of the culture bottle and inoculation loop
How to streak a bacterial culture on an agar plate
Why working under a bunsen burner and flaming the neck of the culture bottle helps reduce contamination
How to handle the equipment to reduce the risk of contamination
Why the sterile loop should not be used to spread bacteria while it is hot

Obtaining and Recording Data

What streak pattern is used to achieve discrete colonies
Why plates should be placed upside down in the incubator
How the density of bacterial colonies differs in different parts of the streak plate

Working in a Safe Manner

Why care must be taken when flaming the neck of the bottle
How to reduce the risk of burning yourself when sterilising the inoculation loop

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Student

University of Exeter

“The feedback from the simulations was really useful to understand where I went wrong, so I don’t go wrong when I am doing the lab in real time.”

Details

Degrees

Biological science

Biomedical science

Foundation science

Discipline

Microbiology

Topic

Culturing microbial populations

Purchase option

Bioscience LabSim Library

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