Final answer:
To test if full doses of antibiotics kill bacteria, a double-blind experiment with different antibiotic dosages and control groups should be conducted. The study should use techniques like the Kirby-Bauer assay to measure zones of inhibition on nutrient agar plates.
Step-by-step explanation:
Experimental Design for Testing Antibiotic Efficacy on Bacteria
To test the hypothesis that if antibiotics are applied in full dosage to bacteria, then the bacteria will be killed, an effective experimental design would be option A, which suggests conducting a double-blind experiment comparing the effects of different antibiotic dosages on bacterial growth. This experiment should include a control group where no antibiotics are applied to observe the natural growth of bacteria and to establish a baseline for comparison. Bacteria should be grown on nutrient agar plates, with and without antibiotics, tracking the growth through a zone of inhibition around antibiotic-soaked discs, following procedures like the Kirby-Bauer assay.
In addition to observing the zone of inhibition, other techniques such as biochemical assays for viability, and genetic analysis for resistance markers may be included to provide more comprehensive results. Maintaining stringent controls for variables like temperature, pH, and incubation time is essential. Careful measurement and analysis of the zone sizes, along with statistical testing, can provide strong evidence to support or refute the hypothesis.