Environmental Sample Analysis
Environmental Sample Analysis - Related Videos
10:41
Carbon and Nitrogen Analysis of Environmental Samples
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2023
Source: Laboratories of Margaret Workman and Kimberly Frye - Depaul University Elemental Analysis is a method used to determine elemental composition of a material. In environmental samples such as soils, scientists are particularly interested in the amounts of two ecologically important elements, nitrogen and carbon. Elemental analysis by the flash combustion technique works by oxidizing the sample with a catalyst through combustion in a high-temperature chamber. The products of combustion are...
12:04
RNA Analysis of Environmental Samples Using RT-PCR
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2023
Source: Laboratories of Dr. Ian Pepper and Dr. Charles Gerba - The University of Arizona Demonstrating Author: Bradley Schmitz Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) involves the same process as conventional PCR — cycling temperature to amplify nucleic acids. However, while conventional PCR only amplifies deoxyribonucleic acids (DNA), RT-PCR enables the amplification of ribonucleic acids (RNA) through the formation of complementary DNA (cDNA). This enables RNA-based organisms...
09:17
Detection of Bacteriophages in Environmental Samples
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2023
Source: Laboratories of Dr. Ian Pepper and Dr. Charles Gerba - The University of Arizona Demonstrating Author: Alex Wassimi Viruses are a unique group of biological entities that infect both eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms. They are obligate parasites that have no metabolic capacity, and in order to replicate, rely on host metabolism to produce viral parts that self-assemble inside host cells. Viruses are ultramicroscopic—too small to be viewed with the light microscope, visible only with...
06:12
Quasi-metagenomic Analysis of Salmonella from Food and Environmental Samples
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Cited by 12 •
2018
Here, we present a protocol to prepare DNA samples from food and environmental microbiomes for concerted detection and subtyping of Salmonella through quasimetagenomic sequencing. The combined use of culture enrichment, immunomagnetic separation (IMS), and multiple displacement amplification (MDA) allows effective concentration of Salmonella genomic DNA from food and environmental...
08:01
Environmental Sampling of Photosynthetic Microbes and Their Viruses: From Field to Lab
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2025
Here, we describe methods of sampling from the euphotic zones of marine and freshwater ecosystems to isolate cyanophages (and their hosts) and post-sampling processes that enrich single genotypes and characterize virus-host interaction dynamics.
FAQs
Representative sampling determines whether measured constituents reflect the environmental material being studied rather than an unusual portion of it. For that reason, sampling is part of the analytical process, not merely a preliminary task. Reliable sample selection strengthens comparisons among locations or time points and supports sound conclusions about contamination, environmental quality, and environmental change.
Preservation and preparation help maintain the sample’s suitability for later examination. These stages determine how soil, water, air, sediment, or biological material is handled before instrumental or biological testing. Consistent treatment supports more reliable detection and measurement of chemical or microbial constituents, allowing results to better represent the original environmental condition.
These methods contribute complementary capabilities. Chromatography can separate constituents, spectroscopy can support detection and measurement, and microscopy can assist examination of material at the microscopic level. Together, they allow analysts to investigate chemical or microbial constituents from different perspectives. Choosing among them depends on the type of environmental material and the information required.
Biological tests can extend the information provided by instrumental measurements when environmental assessment requires attention to biological materials or microbial constituents. Instrumental methods emphasize separating, detecting, or quantifying measurable constituents, whereas biological examination can contribute subject-specific evidence about environmental conditions. Using both approaches can produce a broader ecological assessment than relying on one test category alone.
A typical workflow begins with representative collection, followed by preservation and preparation of the material. The prepared sample then undergoes instrumental or biological testing, and the resulting measurements are interpreted in relation to environmental quality or contamination. Maintaining this sequence connects field collection with laboratory evidence and helps analysts evaluate conditions consistently across samples.
Measured chemical or microbial constituents provide evidence for tracking environmental quality and contamination. Organizations can use these results to monitor pollution, compare conditions over time, support regulatory compliance, and assess whether observed conditions meet the relevant environmental objectives. The value of the analysis depends on reliable measurements that can be interpreted consistently across samples and settings.
Results can help researchers trace contaminant sources by comparing the constituents identified and measured in environmental materials. Repeated analysis also supports evaluation of how conditions change over time and whether remediation efforts correspond with improved environmental quality. These outcomes inform assessments of risks to ecosystems and human health without relying on a single observation.