Sciencemadness Discussion Board - Growing Microbes in a beaker

Growing Microbes in a beaker

kadriver - 19-2-2013 at 21:13

Hello,

Back in grade school we did a cool experiment where we put dead grass clippings in a 1 liter beaker and waited for about a week or two, then viewed the soup under a microscope and found many microoganisms.

My 7 year old nephew visits my shop and we like to do simple experiments together - he seems very interested in science and loves to hang out at his uncle's lab.

We tried to duplicate the grade school experiement and got it all set up in my rotavap water bath. I set the temp at 35C and put the beaker experiment in the heated water.

Is anyone familiar with this experiement? Is there some food are additives that can be added to the beaker to accelerate the growth of the microbes?

We looked at a sample on a concave silde today using a stereo microscope and found two rather healthy looking blobs swimming around in the soup.

Thanks - kadriver

Oscilllator - 19-2-2013 at 23:57

although bacteria will grow just about anywhere, you might be able to accelerate their growth via a few drops of fertilizer.

malcolmf - 19-2-2013 at 23:59

Quote: Originally posted by kadriver

Is anyone familiar with this experiment? Is there some food are additives that can be added to the beaker to accelerate the growth of the microbes?

No additives needed: just the grass clippings are all they need. It's a very old experiment, dating back to the early days of microscopy. With an old name: Google "infusoria" for more details.

When I think of how much time I spent as a 12 year old, watching them and their busy, busy lives under the microscope.....

H.G. Wells actually did this experiment, the opening passage of War of the Worlds seems to have been inspired by it. Here's a Wells quote from before War of the Worlds:

Quote:

And all the time these creatures are living their vigorous, fussy little lives; in this drop of water they are being watched by a creature of whose presence they do not dream, who can wipe them all out of existence with a stroke of his thumb, and who is withal as finite, and sometimes as fussy and unreasonably energetic, as themselves. He sees them, and they do not see him, because he has senses they do not possess, because he is too incredibly vast and strange to come, save as an overwhelming catastrophe, into their lives. Even so, it may be, the dabbler himself is being curiously observed.... The dabbler is good enough to say that the suggestion is inconceivable. I can imagine a decent amœba saying the same thing.

kadriver - 20-2-2013 at 06:10

Nice post, I'll google it

I agree, the quote sounds like he must have been looking through the microscope lens when he wrote it.

Thank you

kadriver

malcolmf - 20-2-2013 at 12:58

Well, the Wells quote is from "Certain Personal matters"; a collection of magazine articles that he'd written in the early 1890s or so, http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/17508

"Through the Microscope" from page 159 on is about the pleasures of infusoria-watching.

[Edited on 20-2-2013 by malcolmf]

Dr.Bob - 20-2-2013 at 14:18

Just buy some food at a poorly run fast food joint, mix it with some water and sugar and you will have all sorts of microbes in no time. Maybe use a salad of mixed greens, sprouts, and other veggies, some "beef" and chicken, and bread of a few types. I have cleaned out a few refrigerators before that had a lot of leftovers left in them, and they certainly were full of microbes, some of which I was afraid would attack me. Or, if you like eating out still, just scoop up some grass, leaves, dirt, and puddle water. I know a few people who are germaphobes who would die if they knew how many bacteria live around, on and in them. It is thought that a significant portion of most humans weight (and DNA) is made of microbes.

[Edited on 20-2-2013 by Dr.Bob]

yoshiharu198 - 21-2-2013 at 02:53

I Have Recently Read a book on Microbes " Microbes and Society An Introduction to Microbiology by I. Edward Alcamo " in the book special and particular interest are the chapters devoted to microbial genetics and the controlling of microbes. The role and influence of microbes in human affairs is given meticulous attention including the relationship of microbes to food and food safety; microbial DNA; biotechnology and industry; microbes in agriculture and in the environment; disease and resistance; viral diseases from AIDS to Zoster; and bacterial diseases in humans.
http://www.printsasia.co.uk/book/microbes-and-society-an-int...

kadriver - 21-2-2013 at 06:11

After reading the book, what was the impression you came away with?

Some people are really obsessed with cleanliness.

If we could see the amounts (and types) of microbes that are swarming in and around us I think many would be appalled.

Its a Good thing that they are invisible to the naked eye.

kadriver

mr.crow - 21-2-2013 at 10:06

Here is an easy biology experiment I saw on TV once:

Mix regular gelatine and boiling water then pour it into a jar so its half filled with Jell-O. Swab someones sweaty feet and innoculate the gelatine. Close the lid and wait. Don't open the lid.

jamit - 21-2-2013 at 12:16

When I think of how much time I spent as a 12 year old, watching them and their busy, busy lives under the microscope.....

H.G. Wells actually did this experiment, the opening passage of War of the Worlds seems to have been inspired by it. Here's a Wells quote from before War of the Worlds:

Quote:

[/rquote]

Thank you for sharing this quote from Well! I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. I'm going to go and check out your source and read it just for the enjoyment.

Rich_Insane - 21-2-2013 at 18:26

I used to work in a micro lab -- I can agree that interesting microbes will grow in ANYTHING, especially fungi. Every time I made plates, I'd have one or two that had some weird colony growing on it (our Laminar hood was broken).

I know that yeast extract and broths like beef broth or chicken broth really help certain bacteria grow. Potato dextrose is good for fungi. Glucose will help accelerate growth and some bacteria can metabolize lactose. If you take samples from soil, or some kind of pond sludge, you can get a lot of interesting microorganisms. A couple of weeks ago, a trail flooded over. I was unlucky enough to step in the deep puddle water -- the air reeked of methane! So there's good microbes everywhere... Though most methanogens are obligate anaerobes and would require nitrogen purging/airtight containers to grow.