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A Yeast Population Study

This document describes a study on the growth of a yeast population over time. Samples were taken from the yeast population in a test tube at various time intervals and counted under a microscope. The number of yeast cells increased rapidly from 0 to 48 hours, reaching a peak growth rate between 24-48 hours. The population then began to decline after 72 hours, likely due to a lack of resources as the population size increased. A graph of the data showed the changing size of the yeast population over 120 hours.

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Brooke Courtney
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171 views

A Yeast Population Study

This document describes a study on the growth of a yeast population over time. Samples were taken from the yeast population in a test tube at various time intervals and counted under a microscope. The number of yeast cells increased rapidly from 0 to 48 hours, reaching a peak growth rate between 24-48 hours. The population then began to decline after 72 hours, likely due to a lack of resources as the population size increased. A graph of the data showed the changing size of the yeast population over 120 hours.

Uploaded by

Brooke Courtney
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 6

A YEAST POPULATION STUDY

Name …………………………………………………………… Date …………….

1. INTRODUCTION

A population study of living organisms may be difficult in the laboratory for several reasons.
Reproductive cycles of some organisms can take months or years. Proper maintenance and growth of a
population under ideal condition may be difficult. Also, accurate counting of actual numbers of a
population often requires elaborate equipment or sampling techniques. Study of a population in a
laboratory is artificial compared to an actual population in nature. Many environmental factors which are
interrelated in nature cannot be duplicated in a laboratory.

Biologists often study population trends using microorganisms such as yeast. The problems listed above
are lessened somewhat when dealing with this type of organism. Yeasts can be maintained easily in test
tubes, they reproduce rapidly under ideal conditions, and a simple sampling technique can be used to
count a yeast population.

2. PROCEDURE

Figure 1 represents population samples taken form a test tube yeast population. The samples are
on special glass slides with lines etched on them. Each figure represents the view as seen through
a microscope.

1. Count the total number of yeast cells (small circles) in each of the three samples for 0
hours.
As an aid counting, the areas are divided into 16 small squares. You may wish to place a
pencil do inside those cells counted so that you do not count any twice.

2. Record in Table 1 the number of cells counted in each of the three areas for 0 h0urs of
growth.

3. Determine and record in the proper column of Table 1 the total number of cells for 0
hours.

4. Compute the average number of yeast cells per area to one decimal place. Record the
average in Table 1.

5. Repeat the four previous steps for yeast samples at 24, 28, 72, 96 and 120 hours.
All cells in the test tube population were not counted on the glass slides. Only a small
sample was counted. Thus, this method of determining population is called a sampling
technique. Multiplying all average yeast cell counts in Table 1 by 1000 will give an
estimate of the number of cells in the entire population. A volume equal to only 1/1000
the original yeast population was placed on the counting slides.

6. Record in the row “Entire Population” of Table 1 the total number of yeast cells in
the population.

7. In Figure 2, construct a graph of your data. Use values representing the total number
of yeast cells (entire population) present during 0, 24, 48, 72, 96, and 120 hours.
TABLE 1. SAMPLE OF YEAST POPULATION

NUMBER OF CELLS

0 24 48 72 96 120
HOURS
Area A

Area B

Area C

Total

Average
Entire population
(Average x 1000)

Figure 2

3. QUESTIONS

1. From the graph, determine the changes in population size between


a) 0 and 24 hours ……………………………………………………………………………….
….
b) 24 and 48 hours ………………………………………………………………….
………………
c) 48 and 72 hours ………………………………………………………………….
………………
d) 0 and 72 hours
…………………………………………………………………………………...
2. During which time interval (0-24, 24-48, and so on) is growth most rapid?
………………………..
3. During which time interval (0-24, 24-48, and so on) is growth slowest?
……………………………
4. When did this yeast population reach a peak (no further increase in growth occurred)?
……………..

5. What happened to this yeast population after it reached its peak (maximum)?
……………………….

6. After reaching a peak, the yeast population began to decline. What may have caused this?
…………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
7. From the graph in Figure 3, determine the changes in the human population occurring between
a) 1700 and 1800
……………………………………………………………………………….
b) 1800 and 1900
……………………………………………………………………………….
c) 1900 and 2000
……………………………………………………………………………….
Note: The dashed portion of the graph line is an estimate of the population in future years based on the
current rate of increase.

Figure 3

8. It took 125 years (1800-1925) for the human population to increase in size by 1 billion.
a) How many years were needed to increase by another 1 billion (from 2 to 3 billion)? ……………..
b) How many years is it expected to take for the next 1 billion increase (from 3 to 4 billion)? ………
c) What trend is occurring within the human population as far as the amount of time needed to
increase population by 1 billion. ……………………………………………………………………
9. Has the human population reached a peak similar to the yeast population? ……………………………
10. What do you think may happen to the human population if it continues to increase? ………………….
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
11. Explain how each of these factors may be important in influencing human population growth.
a) crowding or available space ………………………………………………………………………..
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
b) food availability …………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
c) chemicals produced as “waste products” …………………………………………………………..
………………………………………………………………………………………………………

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