Science+Fair

Student Research Plan

Name: Erica Westlake **Period:** 2

Proposed title (subject to change): The Study of Natural vs. Manufactured Antibiotics

Problem to be posed or question asked: Which is better for the reproductive inhibition of bacteria?

My hypothesis or hypotheses: If the natural antibiotics are more effective in killing bacteria, then my hypothesis is correct. The natural ingredients are better for your body and have more strength than manufactured antibiotics.

Materials I will supply: camera

Materials to be supplied by Mr. Cushing (think of the equipment you will need): TCA plates, incubator, antibiotic discs, bacteria (Escherichia coli and bacillus cereus), and antibiotics (amoxycillin, ciprofloxacin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, nitrofurantoin, vancomycin, clindamycin, gentomycin, diphenoxylate)

Materials from other sources (explain): There will be no materials from other sources in my experiment.

List all chemicals that will be used along with any special handling, storage or disposal: There are no chemicals in my experiment.

Planned procedure: 1) Take a measured amount of bacteria and put it in a TCA plate. 2) Dip the antibiotic disc into a measured amount of antibiotics. 3) Put the antibiotic disc onto the TCA plate with the bacteria and place it all into the incubator. 4) After two days, I will take it out and measure the amount of bacteria that the certain antibiotic killed. 5) Also I will take photos of the dishes before, during and after the antibiotics mix with the bacteria. 6) I will repeat these steps for each bacteria and antibiotics, twice.

What is your independent variable? My independent variable is the type of antibiotics used for the inhibition of bacteria.

What is your dependent variable? My dependant variable is the amount of bacterial inhibition is achieved by the antibiotics.

What is your control? There are two controls in my experiment. One is a TCA plate of bacteria without an antibiotic disc. The second is a TCA plate of bacteria with water.

What are your Constants? My constants are the time the discs are in the incubator, the amount of bacteria placed on each TCA plate, and the amount of antibiotics that the antibiotic disc is dipped in.

Please explain the planned timing of your experiment – how long do you expect it to take and when you will work on it. I have to test two kinds of bacteria, and six kinds of antibiotics, so run at least 12 tests. I will probably run these tests twice, so a total of at least 24 tests. I think this will take a couple of weeks, since each dish has to sit in the incubator for 2 days. I will work on this during allotted time in class, studies and extra periods.

Please cite at least five references you have consulted while conducting preliminary research.

[] - Summary - Actual report

[] - link where found idea

[] - history of antibiotics

[] - bacteria

[] - gram positive and gram negative