Microbial Genetics Day One, Part One

MICROBIAL GENETICS DAY ONE, PART ONE

STERILE TECHNIQUE

When working with microorganisms, care must be taken not to contaminate your cultures with other bacterial species or molds from the environment. One way to do this is by practicing "sterile technique," The pictures on this page depict how to transfer culture media from a bottle to a flask using sterile technique. You will need to use sterile technique throughout the Microbial Genetics module.


1. In your bench, you will find a Bunsen burner and striker. To begin, connect the Bunsen burner tubing to the gas line at your work station.	2. Turn on the gas supply by turning the gas line handle toward the perpendicular (relative to your bench), and light the burner using the striker.	Safety note: A lit Bunsen burner has a blue flame that can be hard to see, so always be aware of your flame and its proximity to your body and any papers on your bench!


3. Seat a sterile pipette in your green pipette pump. Take care not to touch the tip of the pipette! If you do, the pipette is no longer sterile.	4. Uncap the bottle from which you plan to remove the media, and flame the top of the bottle briefly.	5. Briefly flame the pipette itself to destroy any surface contaminants that may be present.


6. Place the pipette into the bottle, and remove the appropriate amount of media.	7. After removing the media, flame the top of the bottle again, and cap the bottle.	8. Next, open the flask into which you will transfer the media, and flame the top of the flask.

9. Add the media to the flask.

10. Flame the top of the flask after adding the media.

11. Cover the flask and place it on your bench and out of the way.

12. Dispose of the used pipette in the gray bucket located on the shelf above your bench.

13. When you are finished using your Bunsen burner, turn off the gas by returning the handle to parallel (relative to your bench).

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9. Add the media to the flask.	10. Flame the top of the flask after adding the media.	11. Cover the flask and place it on your bench and out of the way.


12. Dispose of the used pipette in the gray bucket located on the shelf above your bench.	13. When you are finished using your Bunsen burner, turn off the gas by returning the handle to parallel (relative to your bench).