Microbiology unknown project #40 Write a journal about the identification process. I will add an attached file with all details and requirements. I will also add all results and tests I did. Picture #

BIOL& 260 Microbiology Online 1 Identification o f an Unknown Bacteri um – Online version (75 point lab project) I. Introduction. i. The identification of unknown bacteria is a time -honored part of most microbiology courses. It will challenge your knowledge and skills in understanding laboratory techniques, your ability to critically evaluate the information obtained from these techniques, and your ability to effectively communicate this information. II. Rationale. i. Upon completion of this project, the successful student will demonstrat e: a. The ability to apply basic scientific principles in solving real and hypothetical microbiological problems using the scientific method; b. An ability to effectively communicate complex scientific information; c. Effective personal time management, organization, and study skills. ii. The specific learning objectives involve mastery of techniques and concepts presented throughout the course. Although students in online classes will not actually be performing this project in the microbiology la b, students will demonstrate an understanding of the following techniques: a. Perform ing aseptic transfer technique s; b. Observing plate media that has been streaked for isolation and describing the colonies produced; c. Observing Gram stains and correctly interpret ing gram reactions; d. Effective use of general purpose, selective, differential, and other types of culture media ; e. Select ing only the most significant media and reagents for characterization of the biochemical activities of the unknown bacterial species by applying dichotomous logic; f. Collect ion and evaluat ion of data in a logical manner. g. Present ation of work in a detailed daily lab journal , demonstrating skilled observation with information presented logically, orderly, and neatly. III. Project Format. i. Species identification: a. Each student will receiv e a virtual broth stock culture containing a single unknown bacterial organism , and be required to perform a Gram stain as their first test . b. Each student will run a series of tests to determine the identity of the organism in the culture. 1. Descriptions of the available tests/media will be provided on Canvas . 2. The sequence of tests shou ld display DICHOTOMOUS logic. See Figure 1 below. a. Dichotomous logic involves a series of yes/no or true/false questions. b. Only one test may be run at a time, and the outcome of that test will not be revealed until the appropriate incubation period has passed. Incubation periods are specified in the test instructions/ media descriptions provided on Canvas. i. Each student is responsible for keeping track of the incubation period for each tes t they have chosen and for contacting the instructor at the appropriate time to receive information concerning the outcome of that test. c. SHOTGUN logic (running more than one test at a time) should not be used and will result in substantial points loss es. IV. Daily Lab Journal . i. You are required to keep daily notes of your activities, observations, thoughts, etc ., for every virtual lab test you run . These notes will serve as the basis for the Unknowns Report you will turn in when the project is complete . ii. NOTE: it is important to document all of your activities, whether they give good or poor results. This is critical for when you write your Unknowns Report, as you cannot trust your memory to try and recall what you did during the project. BIOL& 260 Microbiology Online 2 V. Unknowns Report - 75 points. i. You must submit a report that includes your thoughts and activities for each day of virtual unknowns work. a. With the exception of the microorganism paragraph (see h. below), the report should be written using bullet points, and NOT in an essay styl e (an exception is your “microorganism paragraph” – see below) . b. Use 12 point font and single line spac ing and 1” mar gins. c. MINIMUM r eport length: 2.5 pages . Your page count CAN include Tables and bibliography, but CANNOT include pictures. d. Each report entry must begin with the date of each day’s virtual unknowns work. e. Your entries should include the tests you run, the information you hope d to gain from th ose tests, the observations you made from tests inoculated on the previous day , etc . f. You do NOT have to describe the step -by -step details of each test you run. For example, if you run a Gram stain it is unnecessary to describe each step of the process ; instead, just say that you made a Gram stain of your culture . g. The thoughts and words in your report should be YOUR OWN. h. It is MANDATORY that your report include a table (see Table 1 below) summarizing the process you used to identify your unknown organism. i. Microorganism paragraph. A description of your microorganism including diseases, modes of transmission, common sources/places it is f ound, treatments, and any other interesting information will be given at the end of your report after you have determined the identity of your microorganism. 1. This part of the report only needs to be a paragraph or two in length; do not exceed one typed page for this section. 2. All background literature/sources you use for the microorganism paragraph should be cited. You must give credit to the source of any piec e of information that is not your own original thought. a. Use APA citation format for IN -TEXT CITATIONS and for LITERATURE CITED . This Clark library Class Guide has the required information: http://libraryguides.library.clark.edu/biol260 -anitori b. Plagiarism will result in a score of zero for the project. j. Your finished report must be submitted on Canvas by the due date. Late submissions will be penalized at 20% per day. The file must be in either Word (.doc, .docx) or PDF (.pdf) format. Use this as a file name: Your last name_ Unknown . For example: Anitori _Unknown . VI. Plagiarism I wish to remind you that I take plagiarism very seriously, as does the college. The following definition of plagiarism is from the section entitled "Academic Dishonesty" , found at: http:// www.clark.edu/clark -and -community/about/policies -procedures/student_code.php “Plagiarism includes taking and using as one's own, without proper attribution, the ideas, writings, or work of another person in completing an academic assignment.” ** If plagi arism is identified, I will subtract 20 % at a minimum . The more egregious the plagiarism, the greater will be the points subtracted, up to a maximum of 75 points.** Be aware that repeated instances of plagiarism by a student can be punished more severely, including loss of all points in an assignment up to (the most severe) expulsion from the college. VII. Grading Criteria. Listed below are the grading criteria, starting with the most important and ending with the least important. 1. Logic of tests performed — only the most relevant tests, using a dichotomous approach, should be BIOL& 260 Microbiology Online 3 performed. A shotgun approach will score poorly. a. Running tests to confirm the results of earlier tests should only be performed under certain circumstances, for example, if there was a procedural error. If you DO repeat a test, you must be able to adequately describe your rationale for repeating the test in your Final Report. If not, points will be deducted. 2. Completeness, organization, clarity, and accuracy of the daily lab entries are very important. a. All information must be typed in your own words. b. Each entry must be dated. c. What tests were run? Why? What is the incubation period of the selected test? What were the possible outcomes? What were the actual results of the tests? What conclusions did you draw from them? What organisms were eliminated by performing each test? d. Effe ctiveness of written communication. i. Your report should be presented chronologically and be free of grammatical and spelling errors. e. Your report should be concise, easy to read, and easy to understand. f. Successful identification of your unknown organism is worth a small percentage of the grade. i. It is much more important to show logical thinking than it is to correctly identify your organism . ii. Make sure to include a microorganism paragraph (discussed above). EXAMPLE TABLE 1. * This table is mandatory and worth 4% of your report * This table is NOT the s ame thing as the table(s) shown in the “Sample Report ” by Dr Kibot a Table 1: An Example Table for Presenting Test Outcomes Obtained During the Unknowns Project. TEST: Gram stain Catalase PR -mannitol PR -glucose Citrate YOUR RESULT: G+ Coccus Positive Negative Acid Positive SPECIES: E. faecalis M. luteus M. luteus M. luteus M. varians M. varians M. varians M. varians M. varians S. aureus S. aureus S. epidermidis S. epidermidis S. epidermidis S. epidermidis S. agalactiae S. bovis S. mitis S. pneumoniae S. pyogenes ** NOTE: for each species, keep it in the same row throughout the table. ** BIOL& 260 Microbiology Online 4 Figure 1. Example of a Dichotomous Process. ** NOTE – you DO NOT need to submit answers to these questions. They are for your own benefit. ** Refer to Figure 1 (above) to answer the following hypothetical questions by using dichotomous logic. 1) If your organism is a bacillus shaped bacterium , would the PR Glucose test be a logical test to run? Why or why not? 2) If your organism is a coccus shaped bacterium, would the PR Glucose test be a logical test to run? Why or why not? 3) If your organism is a coccus shaped bacterium that is negative for lactose fermentation, what test should you run to determine the identity of your organism? If you do not understand this process (dichotomous logic) discuss it with your lab instructor as soon as possible! A B C D E F G Species Cell Morphology PR Sucrose + - + - - - - PR Lactose + - - - + + - PR Glucose + + + - + + +