The goal of this project was to isolate an organism of interest. After finding the source of the organism one must find a way to select for it. A very successful method involves the use of an enrichment culture. Selective culture media is used and incubation conditions are manipulated according to the organism's characteristics and properties. After the organism has grown using the enrichment culture, further tests must be performed to ensure that the culture is only one organism and that it indeed the organism of interest.

The organism of interest in this project is Lactobacillus. After conducting detailed research, it was discovered that some species of these bacteria are usedspecifically in the preparation of yogurt. Therefore yogurt became the obvioussource for this project. Further research shed insight into the correctmedia to use and under what conditions. Lactobacilli are aerotolerantanaerobes, meaning that they can grow with and without the presence of oxygen. They do however grow best in anaerobic conditions at 37 degrees Celsius. Lastly, even further research was needed to determine the specific characteristics of this type of organism. These bacteria are Gram positive non-motile rods. They are capable of fermenting both lactose and glucose, however they do not produce endospores nor contain the enzyme catalase. Lactobacillus colonies are small, beige, and opaque.

Withthis research it was certain that yogurt would indeed contain our organismof interest, Lactobacillus. Taking the growth requirements into considerationit was possible to grow the bacteria. Further tests coinciding with Lactobacillus characteristics were performed to ensure that the bacteria that had grown was indeed Lactobacillus