Viruses are particles that depend on a host cell they infect to reproduce and carry out metabolic functions. They are considered both living and nonliving. Viruses reproduce and mutate, therefore they can be considered living. However, they also lack organelles and cytoplasm, which is characteristic of a nonliving particle. Most viruses contain either DNA or RNA enclosed in a protein coat called a capsid, and upon infecting a host it induces the host cell’s replication machinery to reproduce.
A virus that only infects bacteria is called a bacteriophage. Bacteriophages consists of the genetic material within the capsid, and they may also have a complex protein tail attached to the capsid. The tail helps the bacteriophage attach, and it also …show more content…
A sample of the T4 virus was also obtained. The T4 virus is commonly used in laboratory study. The National Center for Biotechnology Information states, “Bacteriophage T4 is one of the seven Escherichia coli phages (T1–T7, T for type), and is classified as a member in the Myoviridae family of the Caudovirales order because it has a contractile tail” (Yap, M., & Rossman, M., 2014). Each tube was labeled with dilution and contained a red or yellow cap. First 100μl of the T4 virus was added to the first tube with 9.9 mL of phage buffer. Then 1mL of the dilution in tube 1 was added to tube 2 with 9mL of phage buffer, 1mL was taken from tube 2 to tube 3, and 1mL was taken from tube 3 to tube 4. Next 1mL of the dilution in tube 2 was mixed with 500μl of E. coli in a tube labeled 10-4, 1mL from tube 3 was added to 500μl in a tube labeled 10-5, and 1mL of tube 4 was added to 500μl in a tube labeled 10-6. The dilutions were pipetted several times to ensure proper infection. Fifteen minutes of incubation was allowed for the infection to take place. After the fifteen minutes, 3 mL of agar was added and mixed into each tube. TSA plates were labeled with 10-4, 10-5, and 10-6. The mixture of agar and the dilutions were added to the corresponding plate. Each plate was sealed and moved in a circular motion on the lab counter to spread agar evenly. Finally, each plate was incubated right side up at
A virus that only infects bacteria is called a bacteriophage. Bacteriophages consists of the genetic material within the capsid, and they may also have a complex protein tail attached to the capsid. The tail helps the bacteriophage attach, and it also …show more content…
A sample of the T4 virus was also obtained. The T4 virus is commonly used in laboratory study. The National Center for Biotechnology Information states, “Bacteriophage T4 is one of the seven Escherichia coli phages (T1–T7, T for type), and is classified as a member in the Myoviridae family of the Caudovirales order because it has a contractile tail” (Yap, M., & Rossman, M., 2014). Each tube was labeled with dilution and contained a red or yellow cap. First 100μl of the T4 virus was added to the first tube with 9.9 mL of phage buffer. Then 1mL of the dilution in tube 1 was added to tube 2 with 9mL of phage buffer, 1mL was taken from tube 2 to tube 3, and 1mL was taken from tube 3 to tube 4. Next 1mL of the dilution in tube 2 was mixed with 500μl of E. coli in a tube labeled 10-4, 1mL from tube 3 was added to 500μl in a tube labeled 10-5, and 1mL of tube 4 was added to 500μl in a tube labeled 10-6. The dilutions were pipetted several times to ensure proper infection. Fifteen minutes of incubation was allowed for the infection to take place. After the fifteen minutes, 3 mL of agar was added and mixed into each tube. TSA plates were labeled with 10-4, 10-5, and 10-6. The mixture of agar and the dilutions were added to the corresponding plate. Each plate was sealed and moved in a circular motion on the lab counter to spread agar evenly. Finally, each plate was incubated right side up at