The microbiology laboratory is used in the study of microscopic plants and animals.

In the lab we have a range of incubators and temperature-control rooms which we use to culture bacteria and phytoplankton. We also run experiments in these rooms where we can manipulate certain parameters of the bacterial and planktonic cultures to induce reactions or restrict their growth processes. The laboratory is also used to conduct experiments that require DNA analysis (in collaboration with the molecular laboratory), viral infections of seaweeds and fermentation experiments with oil eating bacteria.

In this lab we also process large volumes of seawater from many sites around the west coast of Scotland, taking samples for bacteria and phytoplankton analysis, as well as samples for POC/PON and nutrient analysis (in colllaboration with the analytical laboratory).

The microbiology lab has many incubators, three temperature controlled rooms, two laminar flow hoods, fridges freezers, fermentation and HPLC kit, three small benchtop microscopes and filtration rigs: a small one for volumes of up to five litres and a Tangential Filtration system which can rapidly screen seawater of 100+ litres through filters with pore sizes of less than a micron.

The lab also includes a wash up area and an autoclave room with one benchtop and one large top-loading autoclave.

For more information, please contact the lab manager, Mrs Elaine Mitchell.