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How to Inoculate Bacteria

The study of bacteria is done for a variety of reasons, from gleaning an understanding of the beginnings of life on the planet to learning about the environment certain colonies survive and thrive in, so as to help the average person stay healthy. One of the microbiology disciplines, bacteriology is an important study in both the public and private sector, affecting every person in the world. To study bacteria you must follow certain protocol in order to avoid possible infection.

Things You'll Need

  • Marker
  • Agar streak plate
  • Bunsen burner
  • Petri dish with broth bacteria culture
  • Inoculating loop
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Instructions

    • 1

      Use a Bunsen burner to sterilize the petri dish culture. The flame should be 20 centimeters from the dish and held there for 20 seconds.

    • 2

      Use a marker to draw a "T" at the bottom of the agar streak plate, dividing it into three sections.

    • 3

      Hold the inoculating loop near the Bunsen burner until it turns red.

    • 4

      Lift up the lid of the petri dish and insert the inoculating loop, pushing it to the side of the dish.

    • 5

      Use the inoculating loop and touch an edge of a colony near the center of the petri dish.

    • 6

      Take out the inoculating loop and close the dish.

    • 7

      Open the agar streak plate and drag the point of inoculating loop to the largest section of the plate, but not the part marked with marker.

    • 8

      Drag the inoculating loop, in a winding motion back and forth, from the large section to each of the smaller boxes.

    • 9

      Replace the lid of the agar dish with a new lid and seal it with a layer of parafirm. The bacteria is then ready for the incubation process.

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