Class: BE-210
Group: W1
Members: Mukta Agrawal, Jessica Barag, Eric Brahin, Dominic Mangiardi
Date: April 30, 1998
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Abstract:
The specific aim of our project was to determine if the sugar glucose was an acceptable carbon donor for the growth of the bacteria E. Coli. This was performed by gradually eliminating all other sources of carbon in the bacteria’s growth medium, and analyzing the growth constant of the bacteria for each case. The first trial used a medium consisting entirely of Bacto-Tryptone, and had a growth constant of 0.0174 + .00205 1/min. The second trial used a medium of half Bacto-Tryptone and half glucose solution, and had a growth constant of 0.0139 + 0.00700 1/min. The final trial used a medium consisting entirely of the glucose solution, and had a corresponding growth constant of 0.0116 + 0.0015 1/min. We determined from the gradual decline in the growth constants that although glucose is an acceptable source of carbon for the bacteria, E. Coli growth is more effective in a solution that also contains amino acids and other minerals, which the Bacto-Tryptone provided. We also discovered that not only does the presence of amino acids and minerals in the medium propagate faster growth, it also provides for a higher total concentration.