Learning outcomes
Students will learn practical skills required for culturing micro-organisms, practice aseptic techniques and consider experimental design.
They will learn about one of the important mechanisms by which antibiotic resistance spreads between bacteria, which should help them to understand the process of evolution. Teachers may use this practical to lead into discussions around contemporary issues in biomedicine and genetics such as the prevalence of antibiotic resistance.
Curriculum Links
England
- Practical Work
- AQA Human Biology: practical work to include investigations into population growth of bacteria, involving aseptic technique
- OCR: safe and skilled practical techniques
- Genetics and Evolution
- Edexcel (Salters-Nuffield): describe how natural selection can lead to evolution
- AQA: individuals within a species may show a wide range of variation; predation, disease and competition result in differential survival and reproduction
- Health
- Edexcel (Salters-Nuffield): explain why antibiotic resistance in bacteria is an increasing problem
Wales (WJEC)
- Biodiversity and Physiology of Body Systems
- Biodiversity has been generated through natural selection and adaptation over millions of years
- Microbiology
- Culture of microorganisms in the laboratory. Conditions necessary for growth. Principles of aseptic technique
- How Science Works
- Carry out experimental and investigative activities, including appropriate risk management, in a range of contexts
Scotland
- SCN 4-14b
- Through evaluation of a range of data, I can compare sexual and asexual reproduction and explain their importance for survival of species
- The X-Bacteria also allows students to develop the following skills outlined in the Curriculum for Excellence Principles and Practice:
- Carry out experiments
- Use practical analytical techniques
- Observe, collect, measure and record evidence, taking account of safety and controlling risk and hazards
- Present, analyse and interpret data to draw conclusions
Northern Ireland
- Gene Technology
- Incorporation of donor genes into a
vector
eg bacteriophages and bacterial plasmids - Transformation of recipient cells e.g. E. coli
- Incorporation of donor genes into a
