Cooked, Salted, or Lysed—the Survivor: Investigative Options that Select for Polyvalency or Polyresistance
A student performing the activityCopyright Carlton C. Colmenares
Using benchtop experimental techniques, students are allowed options of varying degrees of complexity to test for polyvalency or polyresistance. These investigations allow students to gain an understanding of organisms’ ability to survive challenging conditions, exploit possible evolved adaptations, find new hosts, or establish themselves in new biomes. The implications are to discover how antibiotic resistance may be overcome and how vital crops may be improved using traditional artificial selection methods.
Biomedical engineers help to improve access to safe, effective, and affordable medicines, medical technologies, and devices through the development of new, innovative solutions. Biomedical engineers apply their knowledge of analytical and design principles to the development, testing, and analysis of novel and improved medical treatments and devices.
Whether it’s optimizing the composition of a particular substance or developing new products that are stronger and more reliable, chemical and biological engineers develop exciting new technologies for a variety of industries, including energy, agriculture, and environmental science.
After this activity, students should be able to:
- Compare polyvalency by quantifying the effectiveness of a bacteriophage to kill multiple targets.
- Develop hypotheses, select degrees of exposure to an antagonistic condition, and analyze the results.
- Analyze organisms’ polyresistance to various destructive elements.