Question

1. Your lab partner decides that they need to conduct a gelatinase test to identify their results. They know that the test can be incubated for up to a week, so they decide to inoculate it just before they leave on vacation to Peru. They ask you to take the test out of the incubator for them and store it in the fridge until they return. Does their request align with the best practices for this test? Explain how the test works and whether its results are still observable after refrigeration. Why or why not?

Answer 1

Gelatinase test determine the ability of a microorganism to produce gelatinase. The produces gelatinase being a proteolytic enzyme breakdown gelatin to its aminoacids.

Here they have already incubated the bacteria in gelatine stabs for 1 weeks. That much time is enough for the microorganism to degrade gelatin to its amino acids. So even of its refrigerated the test is still valid. Because if gelatin is degarded it will never solidifies at refrigerated temperature.