During the lab on Tuesday, we became microbiologists and used simulated poop (nutella) to determine what bacteria grows in our samples with either selective or differential media. We discussed the differences between selective and differential media, and came to a conclusion that selective media is media that we are choosing in order to create a certain microbiome, and differential meaning to distinguish two different microbiomes, used almost like a control variable. The yellow/clear Petri dish was our differential, drawing only a small dime-shaped circle on the dish, without any streaks. The two other samples, had selective media, in which we drew multiple streaks in order to see what bacteria growth would appear. We plan to later compare the three samples, to see what our selective samples have grown in relation to the differential.

We also tested (for fun) prebiotic/probiotic chocolates that are sold at Free People for $40. I took a sterilized cotton swab and rubbed it all over the chocolate, and then streaked it on the two selective media Petri dishes, along with the differential. I’m excited to see the growths that pop up on these samples, and to determine if these chocolates are actually worth the money!!