Lab week 1 to week 10

 Microbes need certain conditions to grow and survive. These include:

1. Nutrients – Microbes need food like carbon, nitrogen, and minerals to build their cells and get energy.

2. Water – All microbes need water for their chemical reactions and to stay active.

3. Temperature – Each microbe has a preferred temperature. Some grow in cold, others in warm or hot places.

4. Oxygen – Some microbes need oxygen (aerobes), while others grow without it (anaerobes).

5. pH level – Most microbes like a neutral pH, but some prefer acidic or basic environments.

6. Time – Microbes need time to multiply. Under good conditions, they grow quickly.

7. Space – Microbes need space to grow. If they get too crowded, they may stop growing due to lack of resources.

In summary, microbes need food, water, the right temperature and pH, and sometimes oxygen to grow. 

We culture (grow) microbes by giving them the right nutrients and environment in the lab. Here's how it’s usually done:

1. Prepare Nutrient Media

   • Use substances like agar (solid) or broth (liquid) that contain nutrients microbes need.

   • Common media: nutrient agar, tryptic soy agar, or blood agar.

2. Sterilize the Media

   • Heat it in an autoclave to kill any unwanted microbes and keep the culture pure.

3. Inoculate the Microbes

   • Use a sterile loop or swab to transfer the microbe onto the media.

   • Spread it on the surface (for agar) or mix it into broth.

4. Incubate the Culture

   • Place the inoculated media in an incubator at the right temperature (usually 37°C for human microbes).

   • Leave it for hours or days to allow growth.

5. Observe and Identify

   • After incubation, check for colony shape, size, color, and other traits to study or identify the microbes.

By giving microbes nutrients, warmth, and moisture in a sterile space, we help them grow so we can study them.