MAKE IT COLLEGE LEVEL MAKE IT HUMAN AND MAKE IT LONG AND USE SMALL WORDS!!!! USING THE FOLLOWING TWO DISCUSSIONS GENERATE A VERY VERY HUMAN COMPLETED DISCUSSION: DISCUSSION 1- Phenol is an artificial as well as naturally found aromatic compound which is

### Discussion: Isolation and Characterization of Phenol-degrading Bacteria from Soil Samples Phenol is a significant compound found both in nature and as a result of industrial processes. It is an aromatic substance that poses risks to the environment and human health when it accumulates in soil and water. In nature, various microbes play a crucial role in breaking down phenol, making them essential for the biodegradation of this toxic compound (van Schie & Young, 1998). Therefore, identifying and isolating bacteria that can degrade phenol is critical for addressing pollution and improving environmental health. In this study, we set out to isolate phenol-degrading bacteria from soil samples. The main objective was to find microbial species that can thrive in environments with phenol as a potential carbon source. We successfully cultivated several bacterial strains from the soil samples, as evidenced by the growth of four distinct colonies on spread plates. The successful growth on both phenol-supplemented and plain media indicates that these bacteria are not reliant on phenol for their survival; instead, they demonstrate either a tolerance to phenol or an ability to degrade it. Our results showed that during the experiment, both colonies were able to grow under varying conditions. Interestingly, their growth was quite similar regardless of the presence of phenol, indicating that they could use phenol as a carbon source but were not fully dependent on it for growth. This is further supported by the observation of growth in media without phenol, suggesting that these microbes can metabolize other compounds present in the soil, using them for energy. To better understand the performance of these bacterial isolates in phenolic environments, we planned to test them further using varying concentrations of phenol. By doing this, we aim to discern which isolates are truly capable of degrading phenol and which might only tolerate it. Standards suggest that some bacteria can thrive in dilute phenol solutions but struggle at higher concentrations, thus providing a meaningful distinction between phenol-degrading and phenol-tolerating species. In addition to growth assessments, we applied the Gram staining technique to determine the cell wall characteristics of these isolated colonies, revealing that both colonies were Gram-positive. The morphological analysis via microscopy indicated that Colony 1 consisted of rod-shaped cells, while Colony 2 was composed of cocci. Such differences in cellular morphology can indicate broader taxonomic distinctions and suggest potential affiliations with known genera. For instance, Colony 1 may belong to the genus *Rhodococcus*, a known phenol degrader, while Colony 2 could possibly align with various *Proteobacteria*. To further explore the isolates' physiological traits, we utilized Mannitol Salt Agar (MSA), a selective medium commonly used to isolate salt-tolerant bacteria, primarily Gram-positive species. The presence of MSA will help us test our isolates’ ability to grow in high salt conditions and ferment mannitol. The color change observed on these plates—yellow indicating positive fermentation—will allow us to categorize the isolates further based on their metabolic capacities. Despite our successes, several limitations did emerge that might have affected our results. The media we chose may have excluded some microbial diversity present in the original soil samples. Using Mineral Salt Media could have biased the isolation process by only supporting growth in bacteria that can survive in acidic conditions, possibly leaving out other phenol-degrading microbes that thrive elsewhere. Furthermore, errors could have arisen from inaccurately describing the colonies regarding their physical characteristics such as margin shapes and elevations. The subjective interpretation of color during Gram staining might also introduce another layer of inaccuracy. In conclusion, this experiment provided essential insights into the isolation and characterization of phenol-degrading bacteria from environmental sources. Identifying these organisms is a promising step toward developing bioremediation strategies aimed at cleaning up environments contaminated with phenolic compounds. Continued research involving varying phenol concentrations and additional biochemical testing is needed to confirm the degradation capabilities of these bacterial isolates and to understand their potential applications in environmental cleanup efforts. The findings also highlight the importance of using selective media that balances the need for isolating specific organisms while preserving diversity within microbial communities.