BACTERIAL UNKNOWN IDENTIFICATION PART 1 – IDENTIFICATION KEY
1. Your report will include the following information:
a. A title page with the names of the members of your group of bacteria, your name, and class section
b. A short description of the medical importance of each member of your group of bacteria, including any diseases it may cause, and any benefits it may have. The introduction should be no more than 1 or 2 pages in length. The description of each species should be no more than a 2- or 3-sentence paragraph in length.
c. A dichotomous key that clearly shows a path to identifying each of the bacteria in your group using a total of at least three tests, including microscopic morphology and arrangement. Start your key with microscopic information, and then set up your key using the biochemical tests. You do not need to list the steps of each testing procedure, just the tests in the dichotomous key. The dichotomous key cannot be the same key as is found in your laboratory manual, however, the manual can be used as a reference if needed.
d. At least two references listed in the format seen in the example below:
Smith, John A. (2015). How to Identify E. coli from a mixture of bacteria. Smith’s Microbiology Laboratory Exercises. Philadelphia, PA: Publisher Z, 145-151.
2. The report will follow these structural requirements:
a. Double-spaced text with 1-inch margins on all sides.
b. A commonly-used font face and size
3. The report will be graded on the following criteria:
a. Accuracy of dichotomous key (50 points)
b. Accuracy and proper length of description (30 points)
c. Spelling and grammar (10 points)
d. Reference list (10 points)
