| Growth Medium |
Article Index for Growth |
Website Links For Growth |
Information AboutGrowth Medium |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT GROWTH MEDIUM | |
| microbiology | |
| growth media | |
| microbiological media | |
|
Another important distinction between different growth media is that of a defined and an undefined medium. A defined medium will have known quantities of all ingredients, for microorganisms they consist of providing trace elements, any vitamins required by the microbe and especially a defined Carbon Source and Nitrogen Source (for example Glucose or Glycerol are often used as carbon sources, Ammonium Salt s or Nitrate s as Inorganic nitrogen sources), Minimal Media are defined media. Nutrient media are not defined media as they contain ingredients such as Yeast Extract which vary in composition depending on the source. This definition applies to cell culture media as well, where any medium containing, for example, animal blood serum is undefined, as the composition of the serum will vary from supplier to supplier and Batch to batch. A good example of a growth medium is the Wort used to make Beer . The wort contains all the nutrients required for yeast growth, and under Anaerobic conditions alcohol is produced. When the Fermentation process is complete the microbe is removed from the medium which is now beer and ready for consumption. Some organisms require specialized environments, for example, since viruses are obligatory intracellular Parasite s, they require a growth medium composed of living cells. Often special media are required for microorganism and cell culture growth. Selective Media are used to grow cells which possess a desired selectable trait. For example if a microorganism is resistant to a certain Antibiotic , then that antibiotic can be added to the medium in order to prevent other cells, which do not possess the resistance, from growing. Differential Media are used to distinguish one microorganism type from another growing on the same media. While Selective Media are used to allow the growth of only select microoganisms, differential media allow the growth of multiple types, but result in distinguishing characteristics (such as the production of a brightly coloured or phosphorescent dye). Growth media can be both selective and differential. SEE ALSO
EXTERNAL LINKS
|
|
|