Pure culture

From WikiMD's Food, Medicine & Wellness Encyclopedia

Pure Culture is a laboratory procedure used in microbiology to create a single strain of a microorganism. It is a method that allows for the growth of a particular microorganism separate from other species or strains.

History[edit | edit source]

The concept of pure culture was first proposed by Robert Koch, a German physician and microbiologist. Koch's postulates, a series of guidelines to identify the causative agents of disease, required the use of pure cultures. This led to the development of techniques to isolate and grow individual species of microorganisms in the laboratory.

Techniques[edit | edit source]

Several techniques are used to obtain pure cultures from mixed cultures. These include the streak plate method, the pour plate method, and the spread plate method. Each of these methods utilizes the principle of dilution to separate individual cells of a particular microorganism, which can then grow into a colony.

Streak Plate Method[edit | edit source]

The streak plate method is a simple technique used to isolate a pure strain from a single species of microorganism. A sterile inoculating loop is used to spread the sample across the surface of a solid medium in a petri dish.

Pour Plate Method[edit | edit source]

In the pour plate method, the sample is serially diluted and then poured into a petri dish with a sterile medium. The dish is then incubated to allow the growth of colonies.

Spread Plate Method[edit | edit source]

The spread plate method involves spreading a liquid sample over the surface of a solid medium using a sterile spreading tool.

Applications[edit | edit source]

Pure cultures are essential in various fields of study and industry, including microbiology, biotechnology, and pharmaceuticals. They are used in the production of antibiotics, vaccines, and other medical treatments. In research, pure cultures provide a controlled environment for studying the physiology and genetics of microorganisms.

Pure culture Resources
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Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD