Scientific Concepts and Methodologies - Lab Report Example

This paper explores the various microorganisms that are detrimental to human health and the biochemical potential that enables them to pose such dangers. Ascertaining and knowing the microorganisms that are associated with water are very important in the sense isolation of the bacteria will allow for the study of their biochemical tests and a remedy for their infection. The understanding of the biochemical nature of the microorganisms will also enable appropriate water treatment to ensure that they are safe for consumption.

Bacteria are one of the microorganisms that are known to be extensively found in water. As Wearing clearly put it in his book’ Bacteria: staph, strep, clostridium, and other bacteria’ (2010), bacteria are ubiquitous and have fast means of propagation; budding, binary fission being the most frequent one. Bacteria can be classified in many classes depending on their morphology and, biochemical tests. Almost all classification of the bacteria starts with the Gram test. This test helps categorize bacteria in two wide groups; the Gram positive and negative.

Depending on whether they are positive or negative necessitate further classification into streptococcus and staphylococcus as well as bacilli and others which are bacteria of unique morphology and biology (Schink, 2000). The bacteria known to be found in water are the Escherichia coli and salmonella species. E.coli is found in the human gut and other warm blooded animals. They are generally rod shaped and are gram-negative. These microorganisms are found in the human body as the normal flora and are known to be harmless to the body.

Interestingly, there are serotypes of the bacteria that are quite harmful and are pathogenic to human. They are able to cause serious devastating gastrointestinal infection. This is the serotype coded E. coli 0157:H7 (McArthur, 2006). It is contracted through eating or drinking