Instruments used in microbiology

Instruments used in Microbiology

Microbiology, a branch of Biology, involves the study of microscopic organisms, such as bacteria, viruses, archaea, fungi, and protozoa. This field of study requires the use of various specialized instruments to observe, manipulate, and analyze these organisms. This article provides an overview of the key instruments used in microbiology.

Microscope

The Microscope is the most fundamental instrument in microbiology. It is used to magnify and visualize microscopic organisms that cannot be seen with the naked eye. There are different types of microscopes used in microbiology, including the light microscope, electron microscope, and the fluorescent microscope.

Incubator

An Incubator is used to grow and maintain microbiological cultures or cell cultures. The incubator maintains optimal temperature, humidity, and other conditions such as the carbon dioxide (CO2) and oxygen content of the atmosphere inside.

Autoclave

The Autoclave is a device used to sterilize equipment and supplies by subjecting them to high pressure saturated steam at 121 °C for around 15–20 minutes depending on the size of the load and the contents.

Centrifuge

A Centrifuge is a machine that uses centrifugal force to separate components of a liquid. This is commonly used in microbiology to separate and purify cells.

Pipette

A Pipette is a laboratory tool commonly used in chemistry, biology, and medicine to transport a measured volume of liquid, often as a media dispenser.

Petri Dish

A Petri Dish is a shallow cylindrical glass or plastic lidded dish that biologists use to culture cells such as bacteria, or small mosses.

Inoculating Loop

An Inoculating Loop, also known as a smear loop, inoculation wand or microstreaker, is a simple tool used mainly by microbiologists to pick up and transfer a small sample (inoculum) from a culture of microorganisms for streaking onto a culture plate.

Spectrophotometer

A Spectrophotometer is an instrument that measures the amount of photons (the intensity of light) absorbed after it passes through sample solution. It is often used for the measurement of transmittance or reflectance of solutions, transparent or opaque solids, such as polished glass, or gases.

Conclusion

These are just a few of the many instruments used in the field of microbiology. Each instrument serves a unique purpose and is essential for various procedures and analyses in microbiology.

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