Straighterline Microbiology BIO250L Lab 8 Identifying an Unknown Organism Worksheet Questions and Answers 2024 / 2025 (New Version Updated)

Straighterline Microbiology BIO250L Lab 8 Identifying an Unknown Organism Worksheet Questions and Answers 2024 / 2025 (New Version Updated) Lab Report Format Expectations Utilize college level grammar and professional formatting when completing this worksheet. Submissions without proper formatting, all required photos or sufficient responses will be rejected. Pre-lab Questions 1. What is the purpose of Lab 8? What concepts is it trying to convey to a microbiology student? Microbiology lab eight aims to provide students with a systematic method for identifying microorganisms. Students gain abilities in observation, classification, and critical thinking by using a dichotomous key, a tool that has paired, contrasting statements leading to identifying an organism. The laboratory serves to reaffirm taxonomy concepts while highlighting the variety of microorganisms and encouraging knowledge of their distinctive characteristics. It offers hands- on training in laboratory methods, promoting meticulousness and systematic approaches to identification. 2. What is the purpose of designing a dichotomous key? How will it be utilized in this lab? To offer an organized and effective method for recognizing and categorizing organisms according to observable traits. The dichotomous key is valid in laboratory settings for taxonomic classification, species identification, and teaching. It helps scientists, researchers, and students identify organisms consistently and reliably in the lab or when conducting fieldwork. The key simplifies distinguishing between various species and provides an organized method for classifying the diversity of life. 3. Using a reputable source online, describe how the Fluid Thioglycollate Medium (FTM) test works. Provide enough elaboration that you clearly demonstrate your knowledge of this test. The Fluid Thioglycollate Medium (FTM) test aims to evaluate oxygen needs and microorganism growth patterns. This adaptable medium has a semi-solid consistency due to sodium thioglycollate and a tiny quantity of agar. The organism is injected into FTM tubes for the test, and the tubes are subsequently incubated to promote gelation and the creation of an oxygen gradient. The tube's bottom is oxygen-depleted, whereas the top contains higher oxygen concentrations. Aerobes develop mainly at the top; facultative anaerobes are found throughout but are more concentrated at the top, and obligatory anaerobes are found at the bottom where oxygen is scarce. In clinical microbiology, the FTM test is frequently used to isolate anaerobic