For a class of 32. Students simulate bioremediation of marine oil spills using microbes that consume oil. These microbes have specialized metabolic pathways that enable them to use oil as food while converting it into nontoxic byproducts.
In a controlled experiment, students work in pairs to apply a suspension of oil-degrading microbes to a small amount of oil and chemical indicator in a culture tube. A change in indicator color signifies breakdown of the oil. Students also perform the experiment without indicator and over time observe visible changes in the appearance of the oil.
The kit includes teacher's manual with reproducible student guide, glass culture tubes with caps, suspension of oil-degrading microbes, chemical indicator, oil, labels, and plastic pipets.
