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ABSTRACT
Microorganisms are organisms that can be seen with the aid of magnification.
These microorganisms occur in every part of our surrounding without being seen
by the naked eye. Because of the ubiquity of microorganisms, different aseptic
techniques are used in the laboratory to effectively culture different
microorganisms. Microbial colonies were observed and compared from the
different surroundings such as air, water, soil, hair, and detergent.
INTRODUCTION
In microbiology, culturing different microorganisms in different culture media is
important in studying microbiology. When culturing microorganisms, different aseptic
techniques are used in order to culture a specific microorganism in a certain culture media and to
avoid any contaminants. Aseptic techniques are used in culturing, because microorganisms are
known to be ubiquitous.
Ubiquity refers to the state or capacity of being everywhere.
[1]
Microorganisms are
organisms that are not visible with the naked eye. A help in the magnification is needed in order
to see and observe this organisms. The phrase, Ubiquity of Microorganisms, refers to the
concept that microorganisms are everywhere. This is not entirely true, but microorganisms
(especially prokaryotes) occupy an amazing diversity of niches. In our everyday common
experiences, microbes are virtually ubiquitous. They are in the air we breathe, the foods we eat,
and the water we drink. Microorganisms contaminate the surfaces of objects that we use (like
sheet of paper) as well as the skin of our fingers.[2]
Condensation in Petri dishes causes bacterial samples to spread and conceivably blend with one
another. Warm incubators tend to attract more condensation, so the dishes are inverted. Reversal
permits water to trickle down onto the cover, far from the agar, as opposed to onto
microorganisms.[4]
After the incubation, microbial colonies are observed. Microbial colonies are visible
bunch of microorganisms that sprang from a single mother cell, which makes each member
genetically identical. As the microorganisms consume the nutrients, they begin to grow and
multiply. This generates thousands to millions to billions of cells that begin to pile up, becoming
visible to the naked eye. This pile of cells originates from one cell and is called a microbial
colony.
[5]
Each species of microorganisms produces a colony that looks different from the
colonies produced by other species of microorganisms. Examination of the form and structure of
microbial colonies is termed colony morphology and is one of the first steps in characterizing
and identifying a microbial culture.[5]
Figure 1 shows two nutrient agar exposed to air inside and outside the classroom. It can
be observed that the microbial colonies formed from air outside the classroom is diverse
compared to the colonies formed from air inside. The colonies formed when exposed to the
inside air shows small to large sized, are all white in color, circular, and has an entire type of
margin. Also, the colonies are raised (slightly elevated). The colonies formed when exposed to
the inside air shows small to moderate sized, yellow or white pigmentation, circular or irregular
form, and has an entire or undulate margin. Similarly, the colonies are also raised (slightly
elevated).
before touching the agar plate. This can specifically show the number of microbial colonies
formed from the hair only without the microorganisms from the fingers. It can also be observed
that the microbial colonies formed in the nutrient agar is more abundant compared to the
microbial colonies formed from the potato dextrose agar. Also, the microbial colonies formed
vary in size (small to moderate), color (yellow, white, or peach), form (circular or irregular), and
margin (entire, undulate, or filamentous).
REFERENCES
[1] Ubiquity. Retrieved from, http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/ubiquity, 04 April 2015.
[2] Clark College. Lab Module 1: Ubiquity of Microorganisms. Retrieved from,
http://web.clark.edu/tkibota/240/Lab/M1_Ubiquity.pdf, 05 April 2015.
[3]
Granieri,
Krista.
Ubiquity
of
Microorganisms.
Retrieved
from
Retrieved
from
http://study.com/academy/lesson/bacterial-colony-