BRASS (Biomedical Research After School Scholars) program inspires young scientists in Hamilton, Montana

About a dozen Hamilton Middle School students played biochemist in a school laboratory last week.

Their goal was to determine what ailed a hypothetical 54-year-old woman who was complaining of a sudden onset of chills, cough, fever, and severe chest pain. She was coughing up sputum, and wheezing sounds were heard in her lungs.

The students were presented with the woman’s preliminary lab results indicating gram positive diplococci bacteria, capsule positive, with hemolytic activity and non-motile.

After students tested for sulfur production, urea production, lactose metabolism, and lysine metabolism, they found that the “patient” was infected with Streptococcus pneumoniae – a bacterium that can cause pneumonia, according to Rocky Mountain Laboratories scientist Beth Fischer.

The students performed four different sets of bacterial identification in hypothetical cases such as this.

Fischer, who led the demonstration, was joined by three other RML employees: Paul Brett, Mary Burtnick, and Leigh Knodler. The scientists are among 18 taking part in this year’s Biomedical Research After School Scholars, or BRASS program, at local schools.

by PERRY PEARSON – Ravalli Republic

Full Story: http://www.ravallinews.com/articles/2005/11/16/news/news02.txt