Culture Health Dictionary

A growth of bacteria or other microorganisms, cells, or tissues cultivated artificially in the laboratory.

Microorganisms are collected from the site of an infection and cultured to produce adequate amounts so that tests to identy them can be performed.

Cells may be cultured to diagnose disorders prenatally and for study of chromosomes (see chromosome analysis).

Some tissues, such as skin, may be cultured to produce larger amounts for grafting.

The learned, shared and transmitted values, beliefs, norms and lifetime practices of a particular group that guides thinking, decisions and actions in patterned ways.

1. n. a population of microorganisms, usually bacteria, grown in a solid or liquid laboratory medium (culture medium), which is usually *agar, broth, or *gelatin. A pure culture consists of a single bacterial species. A stab culture is a bacterial culture growing in a plug of solid medium within a bottle (or tube); the medium is inoculated by ‘stabbing’ it with a bacteria-coated straight wire. A stock culture is a permanent bacterial culture, from which subcultures are made. See also tissue culture. 2. vb. to grow bacteria or other microorganisms in cultures.