Growing and maintaining micro-organisms

Balance Beakers Bunsen burner Inoculating loop Inoculating needle Measuring cylinders pH meter 

Autoclave (alternatively, for relatively small-scale biotransformations it is possible to use a domestic pressure cooker) 

Thermostatically controlled orbital incubator (alternatively, it is possible to use either a rotary-action shaker in a temperature-controlled room or water-bath shaker) 

When growing micro-organisms either on agars or in broths, the protocol used must incorporate the following general features  

The medium must initially contain no micro-organism such a medium is said to be sterile . The preparation of a sterile medium normally involves the use of an autoclave. 

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