Final answer:
Serum, particularly fetal calf serum, and agar are commonly used culture media in living cell experiments. Artificial media like Eagle's MEM and Tryptic Soy are also employed for specific cell cultivation needs.
Step-by-step explanation:
The material commonly used as a culture medium for living cells is serum, with fetal calf serum being the preferred choice for animal cell culture. Serum provides an extensive range of nutrients and substances essential for cell growth, such as proteins, glucose, vitamins, and minerals. Aside from serum, other artificial culture media available include Eagle's MEM, Dulbecco's DME, Ham's F-12, and others, which contain a balance of salts and nutrients tailored for cell cultivation.
In bacteriological studies, agar is often used as a solidifying agent to create a supportive surface for the growth of bacteria. For routine bacterial culture, Tryptic Soy (TS) serves as a recommended nonselective growth medium. These components are vital in providing the appropriate physical and chemical environment for the survival and proliferation of cells in vitro.