Day 4 thoughts.  Phagefinders. 

Planned:  Our objective is to make high-titer phage for Demi's mutagenesis screen and to master the process of microbial dilution.  Also, we will learn how preparation of M. smegmatis cultures are done...we need to streak M. smegmatis for a single colony.  On Day 5, we can  culture a single colony of the M. smegmatis in an inkwell vial.  The M. smegmatis will then be ready for us to culture virus on Monday.  Today, we will replate the BXZ1 phage at a lower dilution (each half of the class will plate on the samples on their own), and we will harvest the D29 phage for high titer (method/rational hyperlink).  Someone can map the locations where we collected soil samples and place this in their folder.  Make sure students are taking notes and dating these.  Photograph some of our lacey plates; meld these pictures into this diary.  Explanation of writing the unique paragraph, beginning next week, on unique questions. 

Did:  Questions were presented to students regarding phages (they are to compose a paragraph answer, each student was given a separate question):  Why does a phage need bacteria to survive?  How does a bacteria need phage to evolve?  How might mycobacteriophages be used to genetically modify tuberculosis?  What is tuberculosis?  Describe how Mycobacteria phages can be different.  Which genes are conserved among the Mycobacteria phages?  Students will have their responses completed by Monday.  The objectives above were explained, and all activities above were completed. 

Today's materials:    In the morning, made 500 mL top agar.  This can be left at 55°C so that future top agar plating will be easier.

Pointers:  Students were given time to spend writing their paragraphs, using a variety of sources:  The bacteriophage article, the cell paper, Blake which is a returning student from last year, myself, and the internet. 

Need to provide a few more web resources regarding tuberculosis and phages.  Gram Hatfull .  Mention the Hatfull sister program in Philadelphia.  HHMI has recognized G. Hatfull for his commitment to high school education and undergraduate mentoring.  It is worthwhile to see his website (URL HERE).     A.