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Techniques for Isolation of Pure Cultures

Techniques for Isolation of Pure Cultures

Microorganisms are routinely cultured in the laboratory using various techniques to isolate, grow, and quantify them for further study. These methods rely on inoculating microorganisms into a suitable growth medium under aseptic conditions to prevent contamination. Depending on the objective, inoculation can involve direct transfer or the use of diluted bacterial suspensions as the inoculum.Streak-Plate Method for IsolationThe streak-plate method is a common technique for obtaining pure...

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Pure cultures, defined as the growth of a single microorganism species isolated from mixed populations, are fundamental tools in microbiological research and practical applications. These cultures ensure genetic and physiological uniformity, allowing researchers to study microbial traits under controlled conditions.Isolation and Maintenance of Pure CulturesObtaining a pure culture involves isolating a single microbial type from a mixed sample through techniques such as serial dilutions, streak...

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Cell separation was first achieved in 1964 by S. H. Seal, who separated large tumor cells from the smaller blood cells using filtration. Two years later, Pohl and Hawk performed experiments on how cells respond differently to a nonuniform electric field based on the cell type. Such observations were the inception of cell separation methods, which allow isolating a single cell type from a heterogeneous sample.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 2, 2026

Cultivation of Green Microalgae in Bubble Column Photobioreactors and an Assay for Neutral Lipids

Cultivation of Green Microalgae in Bubble Column Photobioreactors and an Assay for Neutral Lipids

Published on: January 7, 2019

Basic Methods for Isolating and Culturing Microalgae.

Kristian Spilling^1,2

¹Marine and Freshwater Solutions Unit, Finnish Environment Institute, Helsinki, Finland. kristian.spilling@syke.fi.

Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.)

|April 30, 2026

Summary

Learn basic methods for microalgae culture, including isolation from local strains using a microscope and micropipette. Optimize algal growth by determining cell count or dry weight (DW).

Keywords:

Cultivation Growth rate Microalgae

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Establishment of a Clonal Culture of Unicellular Conjugating Algae

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Last Updated: May 2, 2026

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Published on: January 7, 2019

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Establishment of a Clonal Culture of Unicellular Conjugating Algae

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Published on: July 14, 2018

Area of Science:

* Microbiology and Phycology: Focuses on the study of algae, particularly microalgae.
* Biotechnology: Explores the application of microalgae in various industrial processes.

Background:

* Microalgae are crucial microorganisms with diverse applications.
* Establishing and maintaining microalgae cultures is fundamental for research and industrial use.

Purpose of the Study:

* To outline fundamental techniques for the isolation and cultivation of microalgae.
* To describe methods for quantifying microalgal growth for optimization.

Main Methods:

* Isolation of microalgae from local environmental samples using microscopy and micropipette techniques.
* Cultivation setup for establishing and maintaining microalgae cultures.
* Growth determination through direct cell counting via microscopy and gravimetric analysis of dry weight (DW).

Main Results:

* Successful isolation of diverse local microalgal strains is achievable with basic laboratory equipment.
* Microscopic cell counting provides a direct measure of population density.
* Dry weight determination offers a reliable method for assessing biomass accumulation.

Conclusions:

* Basic methods for microalgae isolation and culture setup are presented.
* Accurate growth determination is essential for optimizing microalgae cultivation.
* Microscopic and dry weight methods are effective for monitoring algal growth.