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Dangers in Life: A Look at Common Bacterium on Everyday Items. Demetris Abernathy, Angelina Banks, Dominique Liddell, Marcus Walters. Research Question. Which everyday item will have more bacteria on it? Items such as: Computer Mice Elevator Button Cell Phones Book Bags. Hypothesis.
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Dangers in Life: A Look at Common Bacterium on Everyday Items Demetris Abernathy, Angelina Banks, Dominique Liddell, Marcus Walters
Research Question Which everyday item will have more bacteria on it? Items such as: • Computer Mice • Elevator Button • Cell Phones • Book Bags
Hypothesis If people use their everyday items more than ten times a day, then there will be more bacteria on those items than lesser used items.
What Is Bacteria? The structure of a Prokaryotic Cell, which is the most common bacteria cell.
Background Research There are many types of bacteria. Before the invention of DNA sequencing technique, bacteria was classified by shapes and sizes, otherwise known as Morphology.
Background Research cont. Most of the bacteria needs oxygen to grow. It takes 20 to 30 minutes to reproduce. The following chart shows the reproduction of one bacterium cell, if none of the bacteria would die over the time span. 1 Hour........................8 3 Hours...................512 6 Hours...........2.62x105 9 Hours.......... 1.34x108 10 Hours….... 2.68x108 11 Hours........ 5.16x108 12 Hours……. 1.03x109
Procedure • In order to test the different objects first, we had to swab the items with a moist cotton swab. • Then we transferred the sample to a agar plates. • Next, we let the plates sit for two days at 68 ̊ F. • Lastly, we counted the colonies of bacteria and recorded the data.
Materials • Distilled Water • Cotton Swabs • Our Everyday Items • Agar Plates • Gloves
Materials Cont. • Purses • Book Bags • Cell Phones • TV Remote • TV “ON” Button • Elevator Button • Computer Mice • Public Restrooms Inside Door Handle • Dorm Restrooms Inside Door Handle
Data Colonies
Results We discovered that our hypothesis was false. The computer mice were used more than ten times a day, but are used by the same people. The restroom and elevator buttons did prove to be true.
Conclusion The dorm computers were used more than ten times but did not have as much bacteria on them because they are used by the same people all the time. On the other hand the elevator button and public restrooms are not used by the same people everyday and the people that use it may not wash there hands.
Further Investigation Some of our mistakes was that the agar plates were not air tight. The air-borne bacteria leaked into the plates and caused extra growth on the control and some other plates that weren’t even used.
Work Cited • LaRosa, Liz. "Where can we find bacteria?". 6/18/09 <middleschoolscience.org>. • "Agar Plate". Wikipedia. 6/24/09 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agar_plate>. • http://guccigoods.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/authenticate_gucci_handbag.jpg • http://dontblinkjustthinktech.files.wordpress.com/2008/03/sprint-lg-rumor.jpg • http://www.ict-science-to-society.org/Pathogenomics/images/bacteria_cell.jpg • http://images.tigerdirect.com/skuimages/large/targus-TSB082US-T22-2315-ma.jpg • http://www.buzzle.com/articles/different-types-of-bacteria.html