Culturing Micro-organisms

Key Stage 4

Meaning

This picture shows micro-organisms being cultured on a culture medium.

Culturing Micro-organisms is growing micro-organisms under controlled conditions to produce large numbers of them.

About Culturing Micro-organisms

Culturing Micro-organisms is used to identify types of micro-organism when the initial sample has too few micro-organisms to test.

Micro-organisms are cultured on a culture medium which is a source of nutrients and water that the micro-organisms need to grow and reproduce.

When culturing micro-organisms the most important part is not allowing your culture medium to be contaminated by other micro-organisms. To ensure this scientists follow an aseptic technique.