colony-forming unit
The term "colony-forming unit" is crucial in microbiology and cytology for estimating the number of viable cells in a sample and understanding cell lineage in blood formation.
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Definition
C1Microbiology
(technical, academic)A measure to estimate the number of viable microbial cells in a sample, capable of forming colonies on a growth medium.
Example
- The CFU count helps determine the level of bacterial contamination in water samples.
- Researchers used CFUs to quantify the number of yeast cells in the fermentation process.
C1Cytology
(technical, academic)A progenitor cell involved in blood formation that can give rise to a specific type of blood cells.
Example
- The study focused on the colony-forming units responsible for generating red blood cells.
- Identifying different CFUs helps in understanding various blood disorders.