Microbe Mission B/C

[NeilMehta]

Does anyone know a good way to go about the Gram staining? Will we actually have to do Gram stains?

The rules don't mention anything about actual gram staining at the competition. However, if you are in C division, you may be asked questions pertaining to the nature of gram staining in general (uses, g+ v.s. g-, etc.)

[whythelongface]

Does anyone know a good way to go about the Gram staining? Will we actually have to do Gram stains?

I doubt you will have to Gram stain on the Regionals and States tests, but last year's Nationals did have a Gram-staining lab, and Princeton or SOUP had a negative staining lab, I think.

[rafaelnadal]

is it worth to study the characteristics about the different groups of bacteria (ex. alphaproteobacteria vs deltaproteobacteria)?

[Nano1llus10n]

is it worth to study the characteristics about the different groups of bacteria (ex. alphaproteobacteria vs deltaproteobacteria)?

Topics like these aren't worth your time if you're studying for an easy invitational; however, it can be useful for regionals and beyond as you can group different bacterial diseases into these categories and learn more about their distinct properties.

[Tailsfan101]

I've taken over this event as no one on our team was previously responsible for it.
I've filled up about half my cheat sheet, and I'm wondering: What more could I put on it?
I'm sure that the "experts" on this event can tell me what more info there is.

[Alex-RCHS]

I've taken over this event as no one on our team was previously responsible for it.
I've filled up about half my cheat sheet, and I'm wondering: What more could I put on it?
I'm sure that the "experts" on this event can tell me what more info there is.

Well, it depends what you currently have. I'd say that more detailed disease info is probably lacking. Otherwise, just put stuff on there -- that you find on the question marathons or practice tests -- that is hard to memorize. The 2 virus classifications, the evidence for the symbiotic theory, the sizes of various microbes, the various results of the hemolysis test, the advantages of each type of microscopy, the beneficial uses of microbes (some tests ask very detailed questions about this), are the first things that come to mind.

[Tailsfan101]

I've taken over this event as no one on our team was previously responsible for it.
I've filled up about half my cheat sheet, and I'm wondering: What more could I put on it?
I'm sure that the "experts" on this event can tell me what more info there is.

Well, it depends what you currently have. I'd say that more detailed disease info is probably lacking. Otherwise, just put stuff on there -- that you find on the question marathons or practice tests -- that is hard to memorize. The 2 virus classifications, the evidence for the symbiotic theory, the sizes of various microbes, the various results of the hemolysis test, the advantages of each type of microscopy, the beneficial uses of microbes (some tests ask very detailed questions about this), are the first things that come to mind.

I already have a microbial growth curve, a diagram of a light microscope, common and scientific name for the diseases, eukaryotic vs. prokaryotic, and info on microscopes (bright field vs. dark field, low to high power, phase contrast), etc.

[whythelongface]

I'd say that more detailed disease info is probably lacking

If you still have space, put symptoms, treatments, and identification.

[Alex-RCHS]

I'd say that more detailed disease info is probably lacking

If you still have space, put symptoms, treatments, and identification.

And the type of pathogen -- Prion/Virus/Bacteria/Fungi/Protist(protozoan vs. algae)/Parasitic Worm -- for each disease is a very commonly asked question.
(I think whythelongface meant to include that, but I just wanted to spell it out for others)

[whythelongface]

I'd say that more detailed disease info is probably lacking

If you still have space, put symptoms, treatments, and identification.

And the type of pathogen -- Prion/Virus/Bacteria/Fungi/Protist(protozoan vs. algae)/Parasitic Worm -- for each disease is a very commonly asked question.
(I think whythelongface meant to include that, but I just wanted to spell it out for others)

I meant like identification of the pathogen or visible symptoms. I assumed that the type of pathogen causing the disease would already be on most notesheets already. If you don't have it, ADD IT.