Final answer:
Biochemical tests for species identification examine the metabolic reactions and biochemical profiles or fingerprints of microorganisms, using modern systems like the Biolog system and MALDI-TOF, along with traditional resources like Bergey's Manual. They can also include DNA fingerprinting and FAME analysis for lipid profiling.
Step-by-step explanation:
Biochemical Tests for Species Identification
Biochemical tests for species identification involve analyzing the metabolic reactions and biochemical profiles of microorganisms. These profiles act as biochemical fingerprints that help in classifying and identifying different species. Techniques such as the Biolog system utilize panels of biochemical reactions to analyze microorganisms' ability to metabolize certain biochemicals, along with physiological properties like pH and chemical sensitivity. Furthermore, systems such as MALDI-TOF can identify microorganisms based on unique mass spectra produced from their biochemical substances. Another important tool for this purpose is Bergey's Manual, which provides guidelines for identification and classification of prokaryotes based on their biochemical tests results. These tests can detect intermediates and end products of metabolic activities that are unique to different bacterial species, aiding substantially in the species identification process.
Traditional methods utilize test tubes or plates, whereas modern techniques may use disposable multitest panels that increase efficiency and reproducibility. In addition to metabolic testing, microorganisms can also be identified by DNA fingerprinting, which involves treating the DNA with specific restriction enzymes and analyzing the resulting fragment patterns, and FAME analysis for lipid profile characterization.