Artefact - Bacteria Antibiotic Resistance Lab
The Artefact that I have chosen for Biodiversity unit is the Bacteria Antibiotic Resistance lab that we have done in class. This is a picture of one of the two agar plates from the experiment. In this experiment, we observed the process of evolution and assess the efficacy of various antibacterial products through measurement of zone of inhibition. Testing products include antibiotics (penicillin, ampicillin), mouthwash and toothpaste. Evolution is a time-dependent event that is not easily observable. Depending on the species, humans for example, evolutionary change can take thousands of years to recognize which is too long for anyone to live to see. Luckily, bacteria has an incredibly fast reproductive rate (doubling a population every 20 minutes) making it ideal for showing evolution at work. That was the main reason for doing this lab. I was working with two other people while doing this lab. Over a period of 2 weeks, we were to make occasional observations under the microscope to see if any bacterial growth has occurred. To prepare for this experiment, we had to divide the plate into 3 sections as seen in the photo and label each region as A, B, C or A, D, E on the bottom side. Then, we had to swipe the inner cheek of the plate and streak the agar using a cotton swab. And finally, using forceps, we were to place the appropriate disc on the surface of the agar. This was a really fun and useful activity to do in class because it gives us a more clear understanding of how evolution works. This activity helped me to understand the unit of biodiversity better because observing a bacteria in action was something that will help me to remember certain facts for my later studies/exam. I know what conditions result in bacterial growth and I've got to see just how quickly a single bacteria can spread. In conclusion, I believe that this artefact has had a positive impact on my studies and the knowledge gained from this activity will definitely prove helpful to me in my life.