Define a bacterial colony.

List five characteristics that are used to describe colonial morphology.

Explain why it is important to obtain pure cultures of bacteria.

Describe three forms of culture media and the advantages and disadvantages of each form.

List three aseptic techniques used in the laboratory to prevent contamination of the worker, the environment, and culture material.

How would you determine whether culture media given to you are sterile before you use them?

What are the signs of growth in a liquid medium?

What is the purpose of wiping the laboratory bench top with disinfectant before you begin to handle cultures?

Why can a single colony on a plate be used to start a pure culture?

Why is it important not to contaminate a pure culture?

What is meant by the term clonal morphology?

Why should long hair be tied back when one is working in a microbiology laboratory? Can you think of an actual patient-care situation that would call for its control for the same reason?

Name at least two kinds of solutions that may be administered to patients by intravenous injection and therefore must be sterile. How would you know if they were not sterile?