Getting a closer look

Looking at penicillium microbes through a microscope at the University of Otago microbiology building in Dunedin yesterday is Otago Girls’ High School pupil Ella Hou (16).

Eighteen groups of year 11 pupils from seven schools across Otago were invited to the department of microbiology and immunology labs to explore the unseen world of microorganisms, a University of Otago spokeswoman said.

Pupils learnt about how microorganisms affected almost every aspect of life on Earth.

Investigations included a microscope view of a sample taken from the surface of students’ teeth.

There were more microorganisms in a person’s mouth than there were people on Earth, she said.