User:Hayes Braxton Whitney/Notebook/Biology 210 at AU

January 22nd, 2015 Lab 2: Identifying Algae & Protists

Purpose The purpose of Lab two was to further understand the usage of the dichotomous key and being able to implement it as a tool to make conclusions on observed Algae and Protists from the group transect.

Materials and Methods The first part of Lab 2 was learning how to use the dichotomous key to correctly identify organisms taken from transect 1. The second part of the lab involved taking samples from transects 1’s hay infusion and creating wet mount slides for viewing through the microscope. The sample was given a week to ferment. The wet mounts were viewed and observations documented. Lastly, 100-microliter sample dilutions were taken from our hay infusion culture from transect 1 and placed into 100mL tubes of sterile broth. This was done four times from the initial tube, creating three additional tubes of subsequently more dilution. After this, agar plates were filled with 100mL from each tube was transferred to each plate-making six plates total. The sample was evenly spread around and placed aside for further observation.

Data and Observations Six organisms were observed and documented in the table shown below. In procedure two, a sample was taken from transect 1’s hay infusion and organisms were viewed to track the organismal growth. In the third procedure, agar plates were created for viewing during week 3 lab.

Conclusions and Future Directions In conclusion, the fermentation of transect 1’s hay infusion was viewed and showed organismal growth throughout. Future experiments will involve viewing the more in depth growth over the next four weeks of fermentation.

January 14th, 2015 Lab 1: Biological Life at American University

The purpose of Lab 1 was to understand how natural selection plays a role in the group transect, as well as observe procured samples from our transect under microscope.

Materials and Methods The first part of Lab 1 involved viewing of the Volvocine Line under microscope. The cells viewed were Volvox, Gonium, and Chlamydomonas, shown below (Image1). The number of cells varies throughout the Volovcine Line, but typically Chlamydomonas shows a single cell, Gonium presents from the 4-32 cell range, and Volvox appears as a great ball of cells. The results shown below indicated this in subdued form. After the Volvocine Line cells were viewed, the second part of the experiment involved moving to the assigned groups transect. A 50ml transect sample was taken and the procured samples documented (Image 2). Upon returning to the lab, a Hay Infusion Culture was created using 10 grams of the transect sample and 500mLs of Deer Park water. After that, 0.1g of powdered milk was added to the jar for nutrients for the living organisms and was mixed to evenly distribute the powdered milk throughout the sample.

Data and Observations Images 1 and 2 show the data and observations from Lab 1. Image 3 shows the Scientist in front of the transect for measurement purposes.

Conclusions and Future Directions Observations will continue to be made of the transect sample over the coming weeks. It is likely that we will see vast organismal growth.

HBW GRAVEL PIT