List in order the essential steps for a sterile transfer of a bacterial culture to a sterile agar plate.

• A. Rinse the transfer tool with ethanol; open the plate; perform the transfer; incubate.
• B. Keep the plate lid open; perform the transfer; reseal.
• C. Flame sterilize the transfer tool; keep the plate lid closed as much as possible; make the transfer with minimal exposure; streak onto the plate; reseal promptly.
• D. Sterilize the plate in the flame; cool; then transfer.

Answer: (C)