Dictionary > Colony-forming unit

Colony-forming unit

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.


You will also like...

takahē
Takahē (Porphyrio hochstetteri)

Meet the colorful takahē, an extremely rare flightless bird. Find out more about its unique features and why they matte..

Ploidy
Polyploidy

Humans are diploid creatures. This means that for every chromosome in the body, there is another one to match it. Howeve..

Buttress roots
Roots

This study guide tackles plant roots in greater detail. It delves into the development of plant roots, the root structur..

Freshwater lake ecosystem
Freshwater Producers and Consumers

Freshwater ecosystem is comprised of four major constituents, namely elements and compounds, plants, consumers, and deco..

Digestion and Absorption of Food
Digestion and Absorption of Food

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

Homo Species
The Homo Species

The evolution of the species of the genus "Homo" led to the emergence of modern humans. Find out more about human evolut..

Related Articles...

No related articles found

See all Related Topics