Name:Block: Date:

Bacteria and Antibiotics Activity

Part One: Exponential Bacteria Reproduction

  1. You have 1 blue bacteria (represented by a blue colored pencil).
  2. Have a sheet of notebook paperon the desk.
  3. Double the number of bluebacteria every thirty seconds.
  4. Use a stopwatch to keep track of time (iphones have a stopwatch).
  5. Continue to do this for 3 ½ minutes.
  6. Record your results in the table and plot a graph.
  7. Plot your results on the axis provided.

Time / Number of blue Bacteria
0 / 1
30s
1 min
1 min 30 s
2 min
2 min 30 s
3 min
3 min 30 s

Name:Block: Date:

Part Two: Action of Antibiotics

  1. One of the blue bacteria mutates! Change one of the bluebacteria on your paper into a green bacterium (use a green colored pencil to draw them).
  2. Green bacteria are resistant to antibiotics
  1. An antibiotic is now taken. It kills 20 blue bacteria every 20 seconds.
  2. Use your stopwatch to keep track
  1. Keep removing (crossing out with a red colored pencil) 20 blue bacteria every twenty seconds until they are all dead!

How long does it take for all the blue bacteria to be killed? ______minutes_____seconds

Describe what is left behind on your sheet of paper: ______

Explain your result: ______

What happens inside bacteria when it mutates? ______

Part Three: Antibiotic Resistance

  1. Double the number of green bacteria every 30 seconds.
  2. Use a stop watch to keep track of time.
  3. Continue to do this for 3 ½ minutes.
  4. Record your results in the table and draw the graph.

Time / Number of green Bacteria
0 / 1
30s
1 min
1 min 30 s
2 min
2 min 30 s
3 min
3 min 30 s

Name:Block: Date:

Activity Close Questions:

1.)The green bacteria are now treated with a new antibiotic.

What effect will this antibiotic have on the green bacteria?

______

2.)What conclusion can you determine from the data and graphs of the blue and green bacteria? Is one better at surviving than the other? ______

3.)How can a Doctor treat the infection caused by green bacteria? Why?

______

4.)Would an antibiotic be effective in treating the flu? Explain. ______