Question
In 1861, Pasteur conducted his now-famous experiments using flasks with long necks bent into an S-shape. Imagine that you are a scientist working in Pasteur’s lab at this time. You decide to tip the flasks so that broth enters the long S-shaped neck. You then return the flask to its upright position. Predict the most likely outcome of tipping one of Pasteur’s S-necked flasks.
A The broth would become contaminated with microbes because they were trapped in the neck.
B Microbes would grow in the broth because the tipping would introduce the oxygen necessary for microbial growth.
C Since the broth had been heated (effectively sterilizing it), no microbes would grow in the broth.
D The broth would remain uncontaminated because no microbes could enter the long S-shaped neck of the flask.
This question is taken from Microbiology 290 – Microbiology » Spring 2022 » Week 1-1
