Question

Choose the correct statements about growing bacteria in a lab?

1) Bacteria are grown on agar in a petri dish. The dishes are kept warm (incubated) and the bacteria will grow and multiply.
2) To avoid contaminating the plates with other bacteria, the surfaces and instruments must be kept free of microbes by using sterile techniques.
3) To avoid contaminating the plates with other bacteria, the surfaces and instruments must be kept free of microbes by using stringent techniques.
4) Bacteria can be produced in large numbers for commercial uses. This is done in a fridge.

Answer 1

The correct statements regarding growing bacteria in a lab include using agar in a petri dish for culturing, employing sterile techniques to prevent contamination, and that bacteria can be commercially produced in large numbers, usually not in a fridge but in bioreactors.

Step-by-step explanation:

When growing bacteria in a lab, it is correct to say that:

1. Bacteria are grown on agar in a petri dish. The dishes are incubated at warm temperatures to allow bacteria to grow and multiply.
2. To avoid contamination, sterile techniques must be used to keep surfaces and instruments free of microbes. This includes the use of sterilized equipment and practices to prevent the introduction of unwanted bacteria.
3. For commercial production of bacteria, they can be produced in large numbers but not typically in a fridge. Instead, bacteria are grown in specialized containers called bioreactors that provide the right environment for growth, usually at scaled-up temperatures suitable for bacterial multiplication.

It is important to handle cultures properly, such as keeping the petri dish 'bottom-up', and to maintain them using subculturing techniques to ensure a viable and uncontaminated supply of bacteria for further study or use. Bacteria grown on slants in tubes may be stored in a refrigerator to keep them viable for longer periods.