Bacteriology is the study of microscopic living things called bacteria. Scientists are learning more about how to promote the growth of good bacteria and fight bad ones to improve our health. Additionally, bacteria are used in various industries to produce useful compounds.

 Biologists do not yet know why these bacteria produce light. One idea is that producing light gives these bacteria an advantage for survival. By glowing, they attract fish, which they then use as a host organism — the bacteria are able to live in the fish's body. These fish, which are attracted to the bacteria's light, pick up the bacteria and prevent them from settling on the bottom of the ocean, where there is less oxygen available. The fish might also benefit from allowing the bacteria to live in their body — the fish are able to glow due to the presence of luminescent bacteria, and this light might help them to spot food more easily in the dark ocean.

Today we will streak luminescent bacteria on solid medium (agar plate) so that you will be able to see them grow and glow. 

Have you ever seen something that glows in the dark? In this project, you'll explore luminescent bacteria, which convert chemical energy into light. You'll streak them on an agar plate and watch them grow and glow!

 LUMINESCENT BACTERIA

Background:

There are many different types of microorganisms, and each kind has properties
and functions that make them unique. Luminescent bacteria,
for example, are unusual because they convert chemical energy into light, which
allows them to glow in the dark.

Most luminescent bacteria are found in the ocean, and are associated with marine
animals like shrimp, clams, or fish. Some fish, such as the flashlight fish,
possess a special gland in their body, called the light organ, in which
luminescent bacteria can grow. In the flashlight fish, the luminescent bacteria
are closely packed in the light organ, and so the fish appears to glow in the
dark.

Biologists do not yet know why these bacteria produce light. One idea is that
producing light gives these bacteria an advantage for survival. By glowing, they
attract fish, which they then use as a host organism – the bacteria are able to
live in the fish’s body. These fish, which are attracted to the bacteria’s
light, pick up the bacteria and prevent them from settling on the bottom of the
ocean, where there is less oxygen available. The fish might also benefit
from allowing the bacteria to live in their body – the fish are able to
glow due to the presence of luminescent bacteria, and this light might help
them to spot food more easily in the dark ocean.

Today we will streak luminescent bacteria on solid medium (agar plate) so that you will be able to see them grow and glow.

Materials:

• Plate with luminescent bacteria (Each group will have an agar plate on which
luminescent bacteria are growing).

• Agar plates (one for each student)

• Toothpicks

• Parafilm

Procedure:

1: Open the lid of the demo plate containing luminescent bacteria.

2: Lift some of the bacteria from that plate with a toothpick.

3: Use the bacteria on your toothpick to write or draw something on your own
plate. Be careful not to press too hard so you don’t press through the agar

4: Wrap your plate with parafilm so that it is sealed tightly.

5: Take your plate home and leave it at room temperature for several days. The
luminescent bacteria should have grown on your plate after 2 or three days. If you then look at the plate in the dark, you should be able to see the bacteria glowing. You might not be able to see the glowing bacteria right away as your eyes have to adjust to the dark.

Questions

1: Can you think of other organisms that are able to produce light?

2: Can you come up with other reasons why it might be advantageous for
these bacteria to produce light?



 

 

Glowing Bacteria

Examining luminous bacteria

<h1><strong>1000 Science Fair Project Ideas by Subject</strong></h1><p>Looking for a science fair project idea? You can find your perfect science fair project from the different science subjects below! Each of our science fair project idea has complete instructions with video. Get ideas for your science projects, find extra resources for your class' scientific projects, or try a fun experiment at home! It doesn't matter what grade you're in, there's something for everyone!</p>

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Microbiology is the study of tiny living things that we can't see with our eyes, like bacteria, viruses and fungi. Microbiologists study how these microorganisms grow, reproduce, and interact with their environment, and how they can affect our health.

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