Bakteerialustoilla

Bakteerialustoilla refers to the cultivation of bacteria on or in a suitable growth medium. This process is fundamental to microbiology for isolating, identifying, and studying bacterial species. A growth medium, often called a culture medium or simply "lusto" in Finnish, provides the necessary nutrients, water, and optimal physical conditions for bacterial multiplication.

These media can be broadly categorized as liquid or solid. Liquid media, like broths, allow bacteria to grow dispersed throughout the medium, making it useful for obtaining large quantities of cells or for certain biochemical tests. Solid media, typically created by adding a solidifying agent such as agar to a liquid medium, are poured into plates or tubes. Agar provides a solid surface on which individual bacterial cells can grow into visible colonies. Each colony is assumed to originate from a single cell or a small cluster of cells, making it ideal for isolating pure cultures.

The composition of bacterial growth media is crucial and varies depending on the specific bacterial species and the purpose of cultivation. Some media are general-purpose, supporting a wide range of bacteria, while others are selective, designed to favor the growth of certain types of bacteria while inhibiting others through the inclusion of specific inhibitors. Differential media allow for the visual distinction between different bacterial species based on their metabolic activities, often indicated by color changes. Sterilization of media is paramount to prevent contamination by unwanted microorganisms.