Chapter Overview

A driving force of microbiology has been to find ways to visualize and handle microorganisms.
Microbes are managed and characterized by implementing the Five I’s—inoculation, incubation, isolation, inspection, and identification.
Cultures are made by removing a sample from a desired source and placing it in containers of media.
Media can be varied in chemical, physical, and functional purposes, depending on the intention.
Growth and isolation of microbes leads to pure cultures that permit the study and testing of single species.
Cultures can be used to provide information on microbial morphology, biochemistry, and genetic characteristics.
Unknown, invisible samples can become known and visible.
The microscope is a powerful tool for magnifying and resolving cells and their parts.
Microscopes exist in several forms, using light, radiation, and electrons to form images.
Specimens and cultures are prepared for study in fresh (live) or fixed (dead) form.
Staining procedures highlight cells and allow them to be described and identified.

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