Final answer:
The two methods used to grow bacteria in the laboratory are liquid culture and solid culture. In liquid culture, bacteria are grown in a liquid medium, while in solid culture, bacteria are grown on a solid medium such as agar plates.
Step-by-step explanation:
There are two main methods used to grow bacteria in the laboratory: liquid culture and solid culture.
Liquid culture: Bacteria are grown in a liquid medium, such as broth. The liquid medium provides all the necessary nutrients for bacterial growth, including water, carbon, nitrogen, and other essential elements. The liquid culture is incubated at the optimal temperature and the bacteria multiply, resulting in an increase in the number of bacteria over time.
Solid culture: Bacteria are grown on a solid medium, such as agar plates. Agar is a gel-like substance that provides a solid surface for bacterial growth. The agar plates are prepared by pouring the sterilized agar into Petri dishes and allowing it to solidify. Bacteria are then streaked onto the surface of the agar plates and incubated at the optimal temperature. As the bacteria grow, they form visible colonies on the agar surface.