Lawn
Lawn (Medicine)
Lawn (pronounced: /lɔːn/) is a term used in the field of Microbiology to describe a uniform and thin layer of bacteria or yeast spread on the surface of a solid growth medium. The term is derived from the similarity in appearance to a grass lawn.
Etymology
The term "lawn" in this context is derived from the Middle English word launde, which referred to a glade or opening in the woods. This is due to the visual similarity between a bacterial lawn and a grass lawn, both being uniform and continuous coverings of a surface.
Usage
In microbiology, a bacterial or yeast lawn is often used in experiments to test the effectiveness of antibiotics or antimicrobial agents. The lawn is created by spreading a liquid culture of the organism across the agar surface of a Petri dish. After incubation, the presence of clear zones, known as zones of inhibition, indicates the effectiveness of the antimicrobial agent.
Related Terms
- Agar: A gelatinous substance used as a growth medium for microorganisms.
- Antibiotics: Drugs that fight infections caused by bacteria.
- Antimicrobial: An agent that kills microorganisms or stops their growth.
- Bacteria: Single-celled microorganisms that can exist independently, symbiotically or parasitically.
- Growth Medium: A solid or liquid designed to support the growth of microorganisms or cells.
- Microbiology: The study of microscopic organisms, such as bacteria, viruses, archaea, fungi and protozoa.
- Petri Dish: A shallow cylindrical glass or plastic lidded dish used to culture bacteria or other microorganisms.
- Yeast: A type of fungus that can convert sugar into alcohol and carbon dioxide.
- Zones of Inhibition: Clear zones that show the effectiveness of an antimicrobial agent.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Lawn
- Wikipedia's article - Lawn
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