NETC Microbiology Students Explore "Microbes in the Environment"

Students in Northeastern Technical College's Microbiology course recently conducted a hands-on lab designed to reveal just how many microbes surround us in daily life. The exercise, called "Microbes in the Environment," had each student swab both a body source and an environmental source. Samples were then inoculated on Petri plates and in nutrient broths to encourage microbial growth.

When students checked their results a week later, some surprising patterns emerged. The areas with the most microbial growth were:

1. Bottom of a shoe
2. Cell phone
3. Toilet
4. Mouth
5. Tongue

Meanwhile, the least growth appeared on samples from a bellybutton and a hand dryer.

The activity not only provided students with valuable laboratory skills but also reinforced the importance of microbiology in understanding the unseen world around us. By directly observing the presence of microbes, students gained a new perspective on everyday surfaces and the ways microorganisms impact human health and the environment.

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