Explain why the following steps are essential during subculturing:

a. Flaming the inoculating instrument prior to and after each inoculation.

b. Holding the test tube caps in the hand as illustrated in Figure.

c. Cooling the inoculating instrument prior to obtaining the inoculum.

d. Flaming the neck of the tubes immediately after uncapping and before recapping.

Figure Subculturing procedure

PROCEDURE Label the tube to be inoculated with the name of the organism and your int Fame the needle or loop until the wires Slant-to-broth transfer: Obtain inoculum from stant and droge inoculum in the broth with a sight agitation Flame the necks of the tubes by rapidly passing them through the flame once Place the tubes in the palm of your hand, secure with your thumb, and separate to form av With the sterke loop or need in hand, uncap the tubes Broth-to-stant transfer: Ootain a looptu of broth and place at base of sant Withdraw the loop in a zigzag motion Recap the tubes Fame the necks of the tubes by rapidly passing them through the time onc Slant-to-agardoop transfer: Obtain inoculum tom stant Insert the needle to the bottom of the tube and withdraw along the line of insertion Reftame the loop or needle