2. Two types of media with similar implying names but very different functions, referred to as selective and differential media, are defined as follows. Differential Media: Differential media refer to a type of growth media that allows the differentiation of closely-related microorganisms. Selective media are used for the growth of only selected microorganisms. Selective Media: Selective media use specific growth characteristics of a particular microorganism to select it from the others. 1. Differential Media: Differential media use unique growth patterns of microorganisms to differentiate them from others. X-gal plates, which are differential for lac operon mutants. What is the Difference Between Streak Plate and Pour... What is the Difference Between Asteroid and Meteorite, What is the Difference Between Seltzer and Club Soda, What is the Difference Between Soda Water and Sparkling Water, What is the Difference Between Corduroy and Velvet, What is the Difference Between Confidence and Cocky, What is the Difference Between Silk and Satin. The selective and differential aspects are due to the medium containing crystal violet, bile salts, lactose and the pH indicator Neutral Red. Some specialized media are both selective and differential, others are either or. The MacConkeyâs and Mannitol Salt described above are both selective and differential bacterial growth media. Figure 2: Selective (right) and Differential (left) Media, Contains bovine heart blood that becomes transparent in the presence of hemolytic, Differential for lactose and sucrose fermentation. An example of differential/selective media used in this experiment was Mannitol Salt agar used to isolated the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis. The Mannitol Salt agar was streaked with these two control groups as well as a swab obtained from the studentâs forehead using a wet cotton swab. For example MacConkeyâs (MAC) selective bacterial growth medium will only grow Gram-negative bacteria. Example of selective media added with antibiotic: Charcoal blood agar media contain cephalexin that selectively isolates Bordetella pertussis. This type of media is used for the detection of microorganisms and by molecular biologists to detect recombinant strains of bacteria. There are many types of media used in the studies of microbes. Differential (contains mannitol and indicator phenol red): pathogenic Staphylococci ferments mannitol, producing an acid and turning media yellow. These media favour the growth of a particular bacterium by inhibiting the growth of undesired bacteria and allowing growth Some Examples of Selective and Differential Media: Mannitol Salt Agar (MSA) Mannitol Salt Agar (MSA) is a selective medium for the isolation of pathogenic and non-pathogenic Staphylococci. Differential media refer to a type of growth media that allows the differentiation of closely-related microorganisms. Non-pathogenic Staphylococci do not ferment mannitol and so leave the media pink. Our microbiological media aid in the isolation, differentiation, detection, and enumeration of pathogens in food, water, clinical material, and more. Understand how the different bacteria grow on these media. Eukaryotic cells can also be grown in selective media. SELECTIVE MEDIA. A variety of selective and differential media are used in medical, diagnostic and water pollution laboratories, and in food and dairy laboratories. For more information contact us at info@libretexts.org or check out our status page at https://status.libretexts.org. Media lacking an amino acid such as proline in conjunction with E. coli unable to synthesize it were commonly used by geneticists before the emergence of genomics to map bacterial chromosomes. Medium formulated to permit the growth of certain bacteria but not others. MANNITOL SALT AGAR (MSA) Mannitol salt agar is a selective medium used for the isolation of pathogenic staphylococci. Differential media is also known as indicator media. Missed the LibreFest? A selective media only permits the development of particular organisms, while a differential media discerns one species of the organism from the other growing on the similar substrate. Other media are more selective for specific organisms. They are added to the medium to indicate the above-mentioned characteristics visible in the medium. They remain solid, as very few bacteria are able to decompose agar (the exception being some species in the genera: Cytophaga, Flavobacterium, Bacillus, Pseudomonas, and Alcaligenes). Growth of most other organisms is inhibited by a high salt content (7.5% NaCl). Selective medium. MacConkey (MCK), which is differential for lactose fermentationmannitol salt agar (MSA), which is differential for mannitol fermentation. This gives biologists the ability to control what types of organisms grow in a specific experiment. In such cases, the gene is termed a marker. The main difference between selective and differential media is that selective media are used to isolate a particular strain of microorganisms whereas differential media are used to identify and differentiate a closely-related group of microorganisms. Browse selective and differential media types in broth or agar for Escherichia coli (E. coli) and coliforms. Potassium tellurite medium used to recover C.diphtheriae contains 0.04% potassium tellurite. Hektoen enteric agar (HE) which is selective for Gram-negative bacteria. For example, if a microorganism is resistant to a certain antibiotic, such as ampicillin or tetracycline, then that antibiotic can be added to the medium in order to prevent other cells, which do not possess the resistance, from growing. Selective Media: Selective media are used to isolate a particular strain of microorganisms. A complex medium in which the exact amounts of components and Differential media are used to identify and differentiate microorganisms from a closely-related group with the help of unique growth patterns. Have questions or comments? “Culturing Media.” Boundless Microbiology, Available here. Liquid media are often mixed with agar and poured via a sterile media dispenser into Petri dishes to solidify. For example: Selective media: YM agar selects for microbes that grow in low pH conditions such as yeasts and molds. What is Selective Media – Definition, Role, Examples 2. Examples of selective media include: Thayer Martin Agar used to recover Neisseria gonorrhoeae contains antibiotics; vancomycin, colistin and nystatin. Eosin methylene blue selects for Gram-negative organisms. Mannitol salt agar (MSA) which is selective for Gram-positive bacteria and differential for mannitol. Undefined medium. (OpenStax CNX, 2018) Selective media are formulated with inhibitors such as antibiotics or high NaCl concentration. Three of the more common selective and differential media are described below and will be used in the laboratory exercise. Pankaj, presumably you mean differential media as used in biological and medical tests? Mannitol Salt medium (MSA) will only grow halophilic (salt-loving) bacteria, such as Staphylococcus & Micrococcus. Blood agar, EMB agar, and MacConky agar are examples of ⦠Differential Media: Differential media are used to identify and differentiate closely-related microorganisms. 3. I'll try to explain in simple terms and I will give clear examples. Selective media generally selects for the growth of a desired organism, stopping the growth of or altogether killing non-desired organisms. Selective: high salt selects for Staphylococci. Selective Media: Selective media refer to a type of growth media that allows the growth of selected microorganisms in the medium. The most common growth media for microorganisms are nutrient broths (liquid nutrient medium) or lysogeny broth medium. Distinguish between selective and differential media. Examples of differential media include: The LibreTexts libraries are Powered by MindTouch® and are supported by the Department of Education Open Textbook Pilot Project, the UC Davis Office of the Provost, the UC Davis Library, the California State University Affordable Learning Solutions Program, and Merlot. While differential media is used in order to differentiate between closely related organisms.Examples are: McConkey, Blood, and EMB Agars. Selective media inhibit the growth of certain bacteria and allow for the growth of others.This permits the isolation of desired bacteria in pure subcultures.An example of a selective media is Coulmbia CNA Agar which contains two antibiotics: Colistin and Nalidixic acid to inhibit Gram negative bacteria, leaving only the GRAM POSITIVES to grow. Selective media contain ingredients that inhibit the growth of some organisms but allow others to grow. Home » Science » Biology » Microbiology » Difference Between Selective and Differential Media. So, media could be both selective as well as differential. MacConkey agar for Gram-negative bacteria. ENRICHED MEDIA. 1. MacConkey agar is an example of a medium that is both differential and selective. Selective and differential media are two types of growth media used to grow microorganisms. Unless otherwise noted, LibreTexts content is licensed by CC BY-NC-SA 3.0. Selective media allows the selection of a group of organisms but not others.Examples are: McConkey Agar, Blood Agar, Mannitol Salt Agar, and EMB. Example of selective media added with chemicals: A medium containing many growth factors. The selective media for eukaryotic cells commonly contain neomycin. Selective and differential media is extremely useful when examining mixed bacterial cultures since it provides: a simple way to "screen out" certain bacterial species some biochemical information on the organisms present in the culture (presumptive identification) Media can be Selective and Differential Some examples of selective media include: Differential media or indicator media distinguish one microorganism type from another growing on the same media. Terrific Broth (TB) is used with glycerol in cultivating recombinant strains of Escherichia coli. “Trichophyton tonsurans on Dermatophyte Selective Agar” By Nathan Reading from Halesowen, UK – Trichophyton tonsurans on Dermatophyte Selective Agar (CC BY 2.0) via Commons Wikimedia 2. Specific nutrients or indicators are used in the differential media. The main difference between selective and differential media is their role in the identification of microorganisms. Differential Media: Differential media use indicators. We also acknowledge previous National Science Foundation support under grant numbers 1246120, 1525057, and 1413739. Selective growth media for eukaryotic cells commonly contain neomycin to select cells that have been successfully transfected with a plasmid carrying the neomycin resistance gene as a marker. Examples. What is the Difference Between Mushrooms and... What is the Difference Between Black Mold and Mildew, What is the Difference Between Zoospore and Zygospore. If so please see the note that follows. Blood agar (used in strep tests), which contains bovine heart blood that becomes transparent in the presence of hemolytic. Selective and differential media are two types of media used to isolate and identify microorganisms. Differential media takes advantage of biochemical properties of target organisms, often leading to a visible change when growth of target organisms are present. Examples: Enriched media are blood agar and Lowenstein-Jensen media. Differential Media: Differential media allow several closely-related microorganisms to grow in the medium. EMB agar, Mannitol Salt agar, MacConkey agar, and Phenylethyl Alcohol (PEA) are examples of selective media. Selective media use specific growth characteristics of a microorganism to selectively grow that microorganism in the growth medium. Selective, and Differential Media Rich (or enriched) medium. The presence of bile salts, as well as crystal violet, within the media prevent gram ⦠Often, in a clinical setting, the most helpful type of medium is one that is both selective and differential. Selective and Differential Media Objectives After completing this lab, students should be able to 1. The indicators can be either eosin y, neutral red, phenol red or methylene blue. Differential media allow the characterization of several microorganisms based on the growth patterns of them. 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