Colony-forming unit Definition and Examples

Definition
noun
A measure of viable cells in which a colony represents an aggregate of cells derived from a single progenitor cell.
Supplement
CFU is used to determine the number of viable bacterial cells in a sample per mL. Hence, it tells the degree of contamination in samples of water, vegetables, soil or fruits, or the magnitude of the infection in humans and animals.
It is different from the direct microscopic counts that include both dead and living cells.
Acronym: CFU.

Bryophytes

Bryophytes (nonvascular plants) are a plant group characterized by lacking vascular tissues. They include the mosses, th..

The Central Nervous System

Myelin sheath is essential for a faster conductivity of signals. Know more about this feature of some neurons in the Cen..

Homeostatic Mechanisms and Cellular Communication

Homeostasis is the relatively stable conditions of the internal environment that result from compensatory regulatory res..

Freshwater Communities & Plankton

Planktons are microscopic organisms that live suspended in aquatic habitats. There are two groups: the phytoplanktons an..

Selective Breeding

Gregor Mendel's studies into Monohybrid and Dihybrid crossing and Charles Darwin's study of evolution and natural select..

Digestion and Absorption of Food

The gastrointestinal system breaks down particles of ingested food into molecular forms by enzymes through digestion and..

Colony-forming unit

You will also like...