8  Lab 1 Aims and Overview

8.1 Aims

To understand how to work with microorganisms, both safely and aseptically

8.2 Learning Outcomes

At the end of this laboratory session, you should understand:

  • How to correctly use basic lab equipment including Bunsen burners, spreaders, and inoculating loops

  • How to isolate single colonies using the streak plate method and by plating serial dilutions

8.3 Competencies

  • Using aseptic technique.

  • Pipetting

  • Isolating and analysing plasmid DNA from microorganisms

  • Documenting and reporting on experimental results and conclusions.

8.4 Importance

This laboratory session introduces key skills required for working safely and aseptically with microorganisms, which are fundamental for working as a microbiologist and used more broadly across a range of other disciplines in the life sciences.

8.5 Overview of Lab 1

In this lab session, you will be learning (or further developing your skills in) a number of key microbiology skills:

  1. You will prepare a number of different bacterial cultures, using the streak plate and spread plate methods (Task 1A).

  2. You will extract plasmid DNA from bacterial cultures and analyse it using agarose gel electrophoresis (Task 1B).

To prepare for Lab 1

Before attending the practical lab, you should ensure that you have read and understood:

You also must ensure that you have read and signed the safety forms, or you will not be admitted to the lab.