What Microbes Are Lurking in Your Investigation House? Identification of Unknown Microorganisms Using a PCR-Based Lab Experiment

In an effort to update the microbiology teaching-lab curriculum by making lab experiments more current, we designed a microbiology lab experiment that used the polymerase chain reaction to identify microbes growing in students' homes. This experiment successfully engaged students, reinforced theoretical information presented in lectures, provided our students with valuable and current molecular technique exposure, and made molecular microbiology personally meaningful and exciting.