| diffusion chambers, culture | Devices used in a technique by which cells or tissues are grown in vitro or, by implantation, in vivo within chambers permeable to diffusion of solutes across the chamber walls. The chambers are used for studies of drug effects, osmotic responses, cytogenic and immunologic phenomena, metabolism, etc., and include tissue cages. (12 Dec 1998) |
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| discontinuous culture | A technique for production of microbes or microbial products in which the organisms are grown in a closed system until one nutrient factor becomes rate-limiting. (05 Mar 2000) |
| organ culture | <cell biology> Culture in vitro of pieces of tissue (as opposed to single cells) in such a way as to maintain some normal spatial relationships between cells and some normal function. Contrast with tissue culture. (18 Nov 1997) |
| organizational culture | Beliefs and values shared by all members of the organization. These shared values are reflected in the day to day operations of the organization. (12 Dec 1998) |
| tissue culture | <cell culture> Originally the maintenance and growth of pieces of explanted tissue (plant or animal) in culture away from the source organism. Now usually refers to the (much more frequently used) technique of cell culture, using cells dispersed from tissues or distant descendants of such cells. (18 Nov 1997) |
| tissue culture infectious dose | The quantity of a cytopathogenic agent, such as a virus, that will produce a cytopathic effect in 50% of the cultures inoculated. (05 Mar 2000) |
| tissue culture plastic | <cell culture> Polystyrene that has been rendered wettable by oxidation, a treatment that increases its adhesiveness for cells from animal tissues and without which anchorage dependent cells will not grow. Commercially achieved by treatment known as glow discharge. (18 Nov 1997) |
| elective culture | A method of isolating microorganisms capable of utilizing a specific substrate by incubating an inoculum in a medium containing the substrate; the medium usually contains substances or has characteristics that inhibit the growth of unwanted microorganisms. Synonym: enrichment culture. (05 Mar 2000) |
| enrichment culture | <cell culture, microbiology> Use of selective culture media and incubation conditions to isolate microorganisms directly from nature. (09 Oct 1997) |
| type culture | A type strain of microorganism preserved in a culture collection as the standard. (05 Mar 2000) |
| faecal culture | <investigation, microbiology> A test used to identify pathogenic organisms in the stools that may be responsible for gastroenteritis. Often performed in cases of unexplained diarrhoea. May indicate bacterial, viral or parasitic disease. Cultures are also helpful in assisting the selection an appropriate antibiotic agent. See: traveler's diarrhoea. (27 Sep 1997) |