YOU GAVE ME WHAT???
Students explore the similarities among viruses, bacteria and pathogens in a laboratory experience
called "The Beasties Lab." The implications of communicable disease dangers are demonstrated
in the "YOU GAVE ME WHAT???" demo as one student becomes "Patient 0" engaging in fluid
exchange at least three times with others in the classroom who also exchange with others. Testing
at the end of the exchanges determines who has been infected as students attempt to discover the
identity of "Patient 0." A weak NaOH solution, test tubes, pipettes and an indicator are required for
the demonstration.

                     

The fluid exchange requires three partners each time.  An infected "patient" compares partners.
Follow up calculations determine the probability of infection at different exchange rates. Discussions
afterwards are concentrated around AIDS, communicable disease transmission, epidemics and the
implications for a continuously growing population and the moves toward a global society.