Define the following terms related to the concept of isolation, identification, and enumeration of microorganisms:

1. Contamination
2. Isolation
3. Identification
4. Enumeration
5. Culture technique
6. Pure Culture
7. Stock Culture

1 answer

1. Contamination: It refers to the introduction of unwanted microorganisms or other foreign substances into a sample, medium, or environment, which may interfere with the isolation and identification of desired microorganisms.

2. Isolation: It is the process of obtaining a pure culture of a microorganism from a mixed population. It involves separating individual microorganisms from a sample and cultivating them in separate environments.

3. Identification: It is the process of determining the specific identity or classification of a microorganism. It involves studying the morphological, physiological, biochemical, and genetic characteristics of the microorganism to determine its species or strain.

4. Enumeration: It is the process of counting the number of viable microorganisms in a sample. It involves using various methods such as colony counting, microscopic counting, or turbidity measurement to estimate the population size.

5. Culture technique: It refers to the methods and procedures used to grow and cultivate microorganisms in the laboratory. These techniques may include the use of various types of culture media, incubation conditions, and isolation techniques.

6. Pure Culture: It is a culture that contains only a single species or strain of microorganism. It is obtained through the process of isolation, ensuring that all the cells in the culture are genetically identical.

7. Stock Culture: It refers to a long-term storage of a pure culture of microorganisms, typically maintained in a freezer or liquid nitrogen. It serves as a source for future use and ensures the availability of the specific microbial strain.