Effect of Antibiotics on Bacteria
Using harmless bacterial cultures
Observe how different antibiotics affect bacterial growth. Place antibiotic disks on the culture and watch zones of inhibition form where bacteria cannot grow.
Bacterial Culture Prepared
Time: 0 minutes
Observation:
A fresh bacterial culture is ready. Add antibiotic disks to observe their effects.
The Science Behind Antibiotic Action
Key Concepts:
Antibiotics work by different mechanisms to inhibit bacterial growth:
- Penicillin: Inhibits cell wall synthesis
- Tetracycline: Inhibits protein synthesis
- Streptomycin: Inhibits protein synthesis (different mechanism)
Zone of Inhibition:
The clear area around an antibiotic disk where bacteria cannot grow indicates the antibiotic's effectiveness. Larger zones typically mean the bacteria are more susceptible to that antibiotic.
Antibiotic Resistance:
When bacteria evolve mechanisms to survive exposure to antibiotics, leading to smaller or no zones of inhibition. This is a major global health concern.
