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Homework Statement
I need help creating flowchart for ID-ing an "unknown" organism. Unknown in quotes because I already know ID of organism.
Homework Equations
gram + (purple) tetrads and cocci
forms yellow colonies on NA plate
catalase +
coagulase -
Nitrate +
oxidase (weakly) +
Bacitracin sensitive (+)
Urease +
The Attempt at a Solution
This is for ID-ing an unknown organism which the professor decided to help us out and gave us the organism ID. The organism is Micrococcus luteus I know all the tests but I am confused about two main things:
1.At what point in a flowchart can you say, yes, this is the organism? I'm guessing this has a lot to do with a presumptive ID, and then a confirmatory ID. But how does one know when you reach that point? Also we never went over the idea a "dichotomous key" but does a dichotomous key help out a lot in flowchart creation?
2.How do I know if I have the correct sequence in the flowchart I am creating, and also, which test is considered presumptive and which is confirmatory?
I obviously started with the gram stain, which gave me purple tetrads. Then I did the catalase test; got bubbles = positive. Next I did the coagulase and it did not clot: = negative. But the next step is confusing me: there are multiple tests I could do, but which tests will differentiate the most?
Also I know what each test is testing for and its implications for ID-ing (I think I do anyway) and I can provide details if that helps in answering question (so you know that I know I mean). This is undergrad intro to microbio, so the test are pretty common and not that techincal.
Thanks for any help at all really appreciate it