microbial cultures

Microbial cultures are populations of microorganisms—bacteria, fungi, or other microscopic life—grown deliberately in controlled conditions.

Scientists cultivate them in labs for research, medicine, and food production.

Yogurt and cheese rely on bacterial cultures; brewers use yeast cultures.

The lab maintained cultures of E. coli for genetic experiments.

A culture can also mean the medium itself: She examined the culture under a microscope.