The Identification of Bacteria In this activity, students are
given a two week period to put to use the knowledge they have
gained while studying bacteria. As a culminating activity, the
students each receive three unknown bacteria to identify. The
students are given a list of over thirty potential unknowns that
they might have. They are responsible for designing the strategy
that they will use to approach the identification of the
unknowns (discussions as to how one might approach such a task
take place throughout the course of the semester). This activity
does require the use of techniques and knowledge which had been
gained prior to being given the unknowns. The students will have
successfully demonstrated sterile technique and pure culture
methods as well as staining methods by the time they receive
their unknowns. In addition,they will have conducted a number of
biochemical tests including: phenol red carbohydrate, catalase
production, oxidase production, tests, methyl red test, Voges-
Proskauer test nitr