Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
A microbe is considered viable if it can grow and reproduce under suitable environmental conditions. Viability indicates the ability to form colonies or increase in number.
5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test
Viable microbes can be detected through colony formation on agar plates.
Viability can be affected by environmental conditions like temperature, pH, and nutrient availability.
Staining techniques such as the use of vital dyes can help differentiate between viable and nonviable cells.
Viable counts are often measured using methods like plate counts and most probable number (MPN).
The concept of viability is crucial in understanding microbial growth dynamics in natural and artificial environments.
Review Questions
Related terms
Colony-Forming Unit (CFU): A unit used to estimate the number of viable bacteria or fungal cells in a sample.
Most Probable Number (MPN): A statistical method used to estimate microbial population sizes based on dilution series.
Vital Stains: Dyes that selectively stain living cells, helping distinguish between viable and nonviable organisms.