The best biofilms I’ve ever grown! | Life of a Chemistry PhD student | My PhD and Me

TL;DR

A PhD student troubleshoots bacteria culture and biofilm growth experiments in a lab setting.

Transcript

another week another vlog it's 8 a.m uh i'm walking into the lab we've got work to do people we got work to do have my bacteria grown have my bacteria grown moment of truth oh i think it's worked i think it worked so as i mentioned before i think i can't remember how much i said but basically i was having problems with my bacteria growing the biofi... Read More

Key Insights

• 🔉 Experimenting with different media and tube sizes can affect bacteria culture growth.
• 👨‍🔬 Troubleshooting is a common aspect of scientific research, with improvisation required at times.
• ❓ Biofilm growth experiments involve various steps, including staining and quantifying the results.
• 🥼 Lab restrictions can pose challenges, requiring adaptability and problem-solving skills.
• ❓ Quantifying biofilm growth is essential for measuring the success of bacteria culture experiments.
• ❓ Collaborating with experts like microbiologists can enhance experimental outcomes.
• 🦻 Utilizing tools like Biorender for graphics can aid in visualizing experimental procedures.

Questions & Answers

Q: What changes did the student make to the bacteria culture experiment this week?

The student tried using seawater in the media and grew bacteria in larger tubes with better surface-to-volume ratios.

Q: Why was it important for the student to adjust the tube size for bacteria culture?

Adjusting tube size helps increase oxygen supply to aerobic bacteria, promoting growth and biofilm formation.

Q: How did the student troubleshoot the drying process of the biofilm cultures?

The student had to improvise due to lab restrictions, trying different methods like air drying with tin foil and using an incubator.

Q: What tools did the student use to quantify biofilm growth in the experiment?

The student used crystal violet stain to quantify biofilm growth by measuring the amount of dye adhering to the biofilm.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The student is troubleshooting bacteria culture growth in a lab, experimenting with different media and tube sizes.

• The process involves filtering seawater for media, adjusting tube sizes for better oxygen supply, and troubleshooting drying methods.

• The student faces challenges but also experiences successes in growing biofilms and quantifying results in a lab setting.