31 October 2018 ✷ Soil 6 spot test

Rationale: Soil sample 6, a sample taken from near the bear habitat will be spot tested in order to test for presence of phage.

Procedure

• The table was cleaned with Cidecon and 70% ethanol and an ethanol lamp was lit.
• 2 spot test plates and one control plate were made using the following table:

• component	volume (control)	concentration	volume (spot test)	concentration
  2X Top Agar	2.5 mL	1X	5 mL	1X
  LB Broth	2 mL	–	4 mL	–
  1M Calcium Chloride	23 µL	4.5 M	45 µL	4.5 M
  Arthro	0 mL	–	1.0 mL	–

• The plates were poured and allowed to harden. On the first test plate, the samples from the first well (arthro added before initial incubation) were spotted from each member. On the second test plate, the control samples (no arthro initially) were spotted. The plates were then incubated at 27 degrees celsius until Monday.

Observations, Results, Data

The green contamination was spotted on both plates instead of being a control sample on the second plate. This shouldn’t have an effect on the outcome of the plate.

Interpretations, Conclusion, Next Steps

The high level of negative results seen by group 6 and by the class as a whole has led to the adoption of positive samples by members of groups that have had a low success rate. In the coming lab sessions, members of group 6 will begin working with a new (and positive) sample in order to study it more closely.