ESCHERICHIA COLI PENETRATION OF COMMON CHICKEN EGGSHELLS
The objective of this experiment was to determine whether Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria would penetrate the pores of a common chicken eggshell. The treatment group included 30 eggs placed in a solution of 1mL E. coli per 10L of water. These eggs were then incubated at a temperature of 37oC for a period of 24 hours. After 24 hours, a small sample of the egg white directly underneath the eggshell was extracted and diluted in 10 mL of distilled water. Then, the diluted solution was used to inoculate 0.5 mL of distilled water, which was then poured into a small Petri dish with agar. After a 24 hour period in the incubator, the number of E. coli colonies in each Petri dish was counted. The same aforementioned process was repeated with a control group of 30 eggs except without bacteria in any of the solutions. A two-sample t-test proved that there was not a significant difference between the mean number of colonies in the treatment group and the mean in the control group. Overall, the results showed that there is almost no chance that the E. coli bacteria are able to penetrate the porous shell of a common chicken egg.
Research Done By:
Elizabeth Buchanan
Warren Mott High School
Ylli Qoshi
Sterling Heights High School
John Saylers
Warren Woods Tower High School
Warren Consolidated Schools