I'm a newbie in this area and just prepare and observe bacteriain petri dishes (and then under the 'scope) for my own learningexperience. I thought I was being sufficiently sanitary whileheating the agar and pouring it into the plates. But before I evengot the chance to start up bacteria in one plate to isolate in theother (both plates were supposed to be sterile), there were manycolonies growing in both of them. I heat up the agar by boiling itand I held the plates in boiling water just before pouring the agarinto them. I try to open the covers a minimal amount while pouringthe agar. I put a rubber band around each once I'm done pouring.I'm not sure what else I can do to get a sterile environment in thedishes. Any tips? Also, once I do get to putting bacteria in them,how will I do that sterilely also? I have inoculating loops thatI'll sterilize before using but that also requires opening thelids.
I'm a newbie in this area and just prepare and observe bacteriain petri dishes (and then under the 'scope) for my own learningexperience. I thought I was being sufficiently sanitary whileheating the agar and pouring it into the plates. But before I evengot the chance to start up bacteria in one plate to isolate in theother (both plates were supposed to be sterile), there were manycolonies growing in both of them. I heat up the agar by boiling itand I held the plates in boiling water just before pouring the agarinto them. I try to open the covers a minimal amount while pouringthe agar. I put a rubber band around each once I'm done pouring.I'm not sure what else I can do to get a sterile environment in thedishes. Any tips? Also, once I do get to putting bacteria in them,how will I do that sterilely also? I have inoculating loops thatI'll sterilize before using but that also requires opening thelids.
