bacterial colonies
Microbial settlement clusters
Bacterial colonies are visible clusters of bacteria that have grown from a single cell on a nutrient medium, forming distinct masses that can be seen without magnification.
Each colony contains millions of genetically identical cells.
Scientists use colony characteristics—shape, color, texture, elevation—to identify bacterial species: The petri dish showed several distinct bacterial colonies after 24 hours of incubation.
- petri dishLidded laboratory culture container
- cell divisionParent splitting into offspring
- binary fissionAsexual splitting into two
- incubation periodTime before symptoms emerge
- streak plateSurface for mineral identification
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