Preparation of Culture Media And Aseptic Techniques

Question

In preparing the culture media, what is the significance of the following?

1. Soaking the container in bleach

2. Keeping the container closed except when pouring the medium; partially opening the container during pour-plating

3. Use of potato in the experiment

4. Inverting the container after the media had solidified

1.What aseptic techniques can we practice in home?

2.What aseptic techniques can we practice in handling food and preparation of meals?

3.What is the importance of a flame source in aseptic technique?

4.Why is it necessary to flame-sterilize the inoculating loop/needle before and after use?

Answer 1

1. This is to kill bacteria and other microorganisms.
2. This is to make sure you are only pouring in the medium and not contaminating it with anything else.
3. I think this is lacking some context, but a potato serves as food and will allow for the growth of fungi.
4. This may be to keep evaporated water away from the medium to avoid mixing and decreasing the rate of evaporation.

1. Washing hands, using bleach and other products to kill bacteria on hard surfaces (don't use too much though).
2. One example might be washing hands before and after handling raw meat. Keeping a clean environment when cooking. Keep food away from fecal matter or anything else you wouldn't want to ingest.
3. A flame sterilizes, it kills everything.
4. You don't want whatever is on the sterilizing loop to interfere with your experiment, so you have to sterilize it with a flame. Sterilizing it after use will make sure that your media does not contaminate the outside, especially if you're working with potentially unsafe microorganisms.