Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Thioglycolate tube culture is a method used to determine the oxygen requirements of microorganisms. It involves using a medium with a gradient of oxygen concentrations, allowing the observation of microbial growth in different oxygen environments.
5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test
Thioglycolate medium creates an oxygen gradient, with high oxygen concentration at the top and low or no oxygen at the bottom.
Obligate aerobes grow only at the top where oxygen concentration is highest.
Obligate anaerobes grow only at the bottom where there is no oxygen.
Facultative anaerobes grow throughout the medium but more densely at the top due to their ability to use both aerobic and anaerobic respiration.
Microaerophiles grow just below the surface where oxygen levels are lower than atmospheric levels but not completely absent.
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Related terms
Obligate Aerobe: A microorganism that requires oxygen for growth.
Obligate Anaerobe: A microorganism that cannot tolerate oxygen and grows only in its absence.
Facultative Anaerobe: A microorganism that can grow with or without oxygen but prefers environments with it.