Abstract: How do different minerals found on other planets, affect the growth of bacteria. In this experiment, I will study the effect that extraterrestrial minerals have on the growth of E. Coli bacteria. To do this, I will prepare growth media for E. Coli, supplemented with increasing concentrations of minerals and chemical compounds found on the surface of the Moon, Mars and Vesta. Bacteria will be grown in liquid media or on petri dishes and their growth will be determined by the density of E. Coli in liquid media or by the number and size of colonies of E. Coli in petri dishes.
Introduction: In this experiment, I will be using K2O, AL2O3, TiO2, FEO and MgO as well was Maghemite and Hematite to simulate the environment in Yellowknife Bay on Mars. To simulate the environment on the protoplanet Vesta, I will be using Howardite, Eucrite, and Diogenite. For the Lunar environment, I will be using Ilmenite, Armalcolite and Troilite.
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Objectives/Purpose: The purpose of this project is study how colonies of E.
Coli might behave in an extraterrestrial environment.
Materials: Maghemite, Hematite, Howardite, Eucrite, Diogenite, Ilmenite, Armalcolite and Troilite. Different growth media: Broth vs Agar, E. Coli bacterial culture, cellometer and Incubator.
Methods:
Prepare 5 different concentrated solutions of each mineral
Inoculate liquid media with E. Coli and grow for 24 hours
Add different concentrations of each mineral and grow for another 24 hours
Count the number of cells in each E. Coli culture
Prepare Agar plates containing 5 different concentrations of each mineral
Streak E. Coli onto Agar plates
Incubate for 24 hours
Count number and determine size of colonies
Plot
results Hypothesis: Higher concentrations of minerals should affect the growth of E. Coli. These minerals will have the an effect from greatest to least: Maghemite > Hematite > Howardite > Eucrite > Diogenite > Ilmenite > Armalcolite > Troilite. Results: Discussion: Further work could be done by experimenting with different minerals and concentrations, as well as temperature, time and radiation and hydration. Conclusion: I found that Maghemite had the largest effect on E. Coli, with their growth being tripled within 8 hours, and quadrupled within 24 hours. Other minerals had similar effects, on a smaller scale. Sources of Error: Concentrations of minerals could not be exactly the same, not measured at the exact same time. References: Analysis of Surface Materials by the Curiosity Mars Rover; Mineralogy, Composition, and Origin of Soil and Dust at the Mars Pathfinder Landing; Vesta Mineralogy in the Light of Dawn: First Exploration of a Protoplanet in the Asteroid Belt
After 48 hours of incubation the agar plates were viewed. Individual colonies were tested for successful isolation by gram staining and then viewing the stained bacteria under a microscope. Isolation was successful. One colony of each unknown bacteria was transferred to an agar slant for growth. The agar slants were stored at room temperature over the weekend so that they would not grow too much.
Streak plate technique was used to isolate pure culture for each bacteria (2). The Gram stain was used to determine Gram reaction and morphology of each bacteria (2) Selective and differential media such as, salt agar, MacConkey agar and blood agar were used for bacterial identification (2). Gelatin deeps were inoculated to detect production of gelatinase (2). Starch Agar plate were inoculated to detect amylase (2). Ocular reticle used to determine bacteria size (2). Motility deeps were inoculated to detect motility on bacteria (2). Thioglycollate broth used to determine oxygen requirements (2). Carbohydrate fermentation
ABSTRACT: Water samples from local ponds and lakes and snow runoff were collected and tested for coliform as well as Escherichia coli. Humans as well as animals come into contact with these areas, some are used for recreational activities such as swimming and some are a source of drinking water for both animals and humans The main goal of this experiment was to see which lakes, snow run off and ponds tested positive for coliform or Escherichia coli and to come up with some reasoning as to why. It was found that the more remote pond with less contact contained the most Escherichia coli. However, another lake that many swim in and use as their drinking water indeed tested positive for a small amount of Escherichia coli. The two samples from the snow showed negative results for both coliform and Escherichia coli and the two more public ponds that aren’t as commonly used as a source of human drinking water but animal drinking water tested in the higher range for coliforms but in the little to no Escherichia coli range. It was concluded that the remote pond should be avoided as it’s not a safe source of drinking water for humans or animals. Other than that, the the other ponds are likely to be safe from Escherichia coli, but coliforms are a risk factor.
One of the first people to study the xenoliths at El Joyazo was Zeck (1970); Zeck hypothesised that the xenoliths and dacitic lava of El Joyazo were derived syn-genetically from a semi-pelitic rock through anatexis. The protolith rock was thought to be separated into anatectic restites, represented by Al-rich xenoliths, and anatectic melt, represented by the dacitic lavas. The xenoliths were classified into three types: (1) almandine-biotite-sillimanite gneiss, (2) quartz-cordierite gneiss and (3) spinel-cordierite rock. Types 1 & 2 were interpreted as restite material as their structure corresponded to that of migmatitic restite, and type 3 as re-crystallised restite. It was suggested that this re-crystallisation would have taken place after that anatexis that produced types 1 & 2. Zeck described the lava, based on chemical composition, as an almandine bearing biotite-cordierite-labradorite rhyodacite. The xenoliths were described as well rounded fragments up to 40cm in diameter. The xenoliths were said to show a well developed foliation defined by biotite and sillimanite, with the exception of the spinel-cordierite rock, which exhibited a granoblastic texture. It was also noted that quartz is almost completely absent from these rocks with the exception of small, rare armoured relicts.
Mannitol Salt Agar contains mannitol, 7.5% sodium chloride and a pH indicator red. This medium allows the growth of salt tolerant organism. Salt tolerant organisms can tolerate the high salt concentration found in Mannitol Salt agar and thus they grow readily. If mannitol is fermented, the acid produced turns the phenol red pH indicator from red (alkaline) to yellow (acid production). Most Staphylococcus bacteria can be grown on the media, but they do not ferment mannitol in this case the medium will appear pink or remains red. Unknown 413 had growth on the MSA agar and bright yellow media and colonies were seen. This means that unknown 413 ferments mannitol and acid was
Eastfield College Microbiology Laboratory Manual, 1st edition, Oliver, T. D. (Book Must Be Purchased New from Eastfield Bookstore and Cannot Be Sold Back to Bookstore at the End of the Semester), Kendall Hunt Publishing, 2013, Dubuque, IA. ISBN 9781465223784.
In the Leptis Magna site, the honeycomb weathering is found on steep surfaces in the salt
Moore (1952) introduced the term ‘speleothem’ in order to describe the different types of secondary mineral deposits (i.e. decoration). Taking a step forward, Hill and Forti (1985) divided speleothems into four categories: dripstone (e.g. stalactites, stalagmites, ‘curtains’), flowstone (e.g. stone waterfalls), pore deposits (e.g. helictites) and pool deposits (e.g. ‘cave pearls’). Overall, all types of speleothems are formed by water saturated with dissolved calcite (CaCO3). As it is already mentioned, rainwater passes through the soil, absorbs carbon dioxide, and becomes slightly acidic. Through this process, acidic water also becomes saturated with calcite and, as this solution enters the cave, carbon dioxide is released; therefore, a supersaturated solution is created. As a result, calcite is deposited, leading thus, to the formation and development of speleothems (Dreybrodt 2012). However, the growth of speleothems is influenced not only by abiogenic processes; the contribution of microbes to the development of speleothems is nowadays confirmed by several researchers (e.g. Northup and Lavoie 2001, Barton and Jurado 2007, Cuezva et al. 2009, Bindschedler et al. 2014, Shtober-Zisu et al. 2014). As an example, a combination of both biogenic (i.e. caused by microbial activity) and abiogenic processes contributes to the formation of moonmilk, a soft and spongy type of speleothem commonly found in several caves
Culture in nutrient broth. This allowed all isolated microbes to grow. * Plate sample onto urea plates.
Leboffe, M. J., & Pierce, B. E. (2010). Microbiology: Laboratory Theory and Application, Third Edition 3rd Edition (3rd Ed.). Morton Publishing
In this method, living spores which are resistant to whichever sterilizing agent is being tested are prepared in either a self contained system, such as dry sp...
Previous investigations have reported that bacterial growth increases in space flight; however, the underlying physical mechanisms responsible for these changes have not been fully determined. As bacteria consume nutrients, they excrete by-products whose presence can influence the onset of exponential growth and affect final cell population density. It is assumed that these metabolic processes create a reduced-density fluid zone and/or a solute gradient around each cell. On Earth, this density difference may result in local buoyancy-driven convection of the excreted by-products. The absence of convection and sedimentation in the low-gravity space flight environment, however, can be expected to alter the fluid dynamics surrounding the cells
Microbes are everywhere in the biosphere, and their presence invariably affects the environment in which they grow. The effects
Every organism requires a specific environment in order to survive. Bacteria alike, different types of bacteria are able to survive and reproduce in different types of environment. Some factors that affect the growth of bacteria include temperature, presence of certain gases and pH of the medium it is in.
The field of geology has many different branches. Some of these areas have hardly anything in common. The one thing that they all include, though, is that each one concentrates on some part of the Earth, its makeup, or that of other planets. Mineralogy, the study of minerals above the Earth and in its crust, is different from Petrology, the st...