Does My Cat’s Mouth Have More Bacteria Than My Four-Year-Old Sister? Who would you let lick you?
Human Health and Behavior
Sterling Covarrubias
- Grade:
- 6
- Teacher:
- CJ San Julian
The purpose of my experiment is if I compare the bacteria in my sister’s mouth and my Siamese cat’s mouth, then my sister will have more bacteria, because sugary foods, drinks, and not flossing can increase bacteria growth, while my cats eat mostly dry food and have fewer sugary snacks. Also, both could potentially lick you, so wouldn’t you want to know what’s in their mouths?
This project is engaging, memorable, and based on a clear scientific question. You did a great job controlling variables (same time, same swabbing method, and same conditions) and repeating the experiment across multiple trials. Your data table and scoring scale were a smart way to compare results, and your reflection shows real scientific thinking, especially noticing patterns and asking new questions. This is a great example of curiosity, careful observation, and learning from unexpected results.
Great project exploring the bacteria found in different mouths. I liked how you compared samples from both a cat and a human and carefully observed the bacteria growth over several trials. Your use of Petri dishes and observations of different colony colors helped show clear differences between the samples. This was a creative and interesting microbiology experiment.