Isolating microbes

CFU

colony forming unit, is a measure of the number of viable organisms. Each life organisms that is put onto the plate will form one clonal colony

Inoculation

refers to the purposeful addition of microorganisms into a laboratory nutrient medium. Often a sterile loop is used for this purpose

Streak plate technique

a loop is used to streak the mixed sample many times over the surface of a solid culture medium in a petri plate to produce isolated colonies of an organism. The pattern of streaking is to dilute the organisms so that isolated colonies are obtained

Isolated colony

a colony which grows separate, without touching another colony on a solid medium

Pure culture

culture of a single form of microorganism uncontaminated by other organisms, growing on an agar plate or liquid culture. Pure cultures are usually clonal (all offspring of the same organism)

Subculture

new microbiological culture made by transferring some cells from a previous culture to fresh growth medium

Sterilization

The process that completely destroys all microbial life, including spores. This can be done by heat, pressure, radiation and other means. We use a flame to sterilize our inoculation loop

Contamination

accidental introduction of infectious material like bacteria, yeast, fungi, virus, prions, protozoa or their toxins and by-products. when your plate is left open, accidental bacteria from the air will contaminate your culture