Culturing Bacteria

Culture media is the food used to grow and control microbes.

In defined media all the chemical compounds are known, while undefined media has partially unknown chemical constituents.

Selective media allows for the growth of specific organisms, while differential media is used to distinguish one organism from another.

Microbiologists rely on aseptic technique, dilution, colony streaking and spread plates for day-to-day experiments.

Many microbes have special growth conditions or require precautions to grow in a laboratory setting, leading to special culture techniques.