# China Blue Lactose Agar > culture medium used in microbiology **Wikidata**: [Q17366025](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q17366025) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/china-blue-lactose-agar ## Summary China Blue Lactose Agar is a culture medium used in microbiology to cultivate microorganisms in controlled laboratory environments. Also known by the aliases CLA and Chinablau-Lactose Agar, it functions as a specific formulation of growth medium designed to support biological research and diagnostics. ## Key Facts - **Primary Name:** China Blue Lactose Agar - **Aliases:** CLA, Chinablau-Lactose Agar - **Classification:** Instance of a **growth medium** (liquid or gel used for the growth of microorganisms or cells). - **Function:** Culture medium used in microbiology. - **Digital Identifiers:** Google Knowledge Graph ID `/g/1q6g1cwls`. - **Language Availability:** Documented in German Wikipedia (`wikipedia_languages: de`). - **Connected Entity Properties:** Belongs to the "growth medium" class, which holds identifiers including MeSH Descriptor ID `D003470`, UMLS CUI `C0010454`, and Agrovoc ID `c_10204`. - **Wikidata Metrics:** possesses a sitelink count of 1 (entity specific); related "growth medium" class has 34 sitelinks. ## FAQs ### What is China Blue Lactose Agar used for? China Blue Lactose Agar is used in microbiology as a culture medium to cultivate microorganisms. It provides the necessary nutrients, moisture, and physical support for growth, enabling scientific research and medical diagnostics. ### What are the different names for China Blue Lactose Agar? This entity is also referred to by the aliases **CLA** and **Chinablau-Lactose Agar**. These names are used interchangeably to identify the specific growth medium formulation. ### In what context is China Blue Lactose Agar categorized? It is categorized as an instance of a **growth medium**. Growth media are fundamental tools in biology, available in liquid or gel forms, that allow researchers to isolate, cultivate, and experiment with cells or tissues outside their natural habitats. ## Why It Matters As a specific type of growth medium, China Blue Lactose Agar represents a critical component in the foundation of microbiology and medical diagnostics. Growth media are essential for cultivating organisms that cannot be studied in natural environments, allowing scientists to isolate pathogens for disease diagnosis, conduct drug testing, and perform genetic research. By providing a customizable environment—where nutrient composition and physical state (gel or liquid) can be controlled—this medium facilitates the reproducibility and rigor necessary for scientific breakthroughs in public health and biotechnology. ## Notable For - **Specific Aliases:** Uniquely identified by the abbreviations **CLA** and the variant **Chinablau-Lactose Agar**. - **Classification:** Functions as a distinct instance within the broad "growth medium" class, which encompasses essential tools like agar plates and defined media. - **Global Presence:** While the general concept of growth media is widespread (reflected in 34 sitelinks for the class), this specific entity is notably documented in German language resources (`de`). ## Body ### Definition and Classification China Blue Lactose Agar is defined as a culture medium used in microbiology. It is formally classified as an **instance of** a growth medium. A growth medium is a liquid or gel substance designed to support the growth of microorganisms or cells. It serves as a sterile formulation that mimics natural environments, providing essential nutrients, salts, carbohydrates, and moisture. ### Identity and Aliases The entity is recognized by several names in scientific documentation: - **Primary Title:** China Blue Lactose Agar - **Aliases:** CLA, Chinablau-Lactose Agar These names refer to the same laboratory reagent used for the cultivation of biological cultures. ### Structural Properties and Identifiers The entity possesses specific digital identifiers and structural properties within knowledge graphs and scientific databases: - **Google Knowledge Graph ID:** `/g/1q6g1cwls` - **Wikipedia Presence:** It has a sitelink count of 1, specifically appearing in the **German (de)** language edition of Wikipedia. - **Class Properties (Growth Medium):** As an instance of a growth medium, it falls under a category described by: - **MeSH Descriptor ID:** D003470 - **UMLS CUI:** C0010454 - **Agrovoc ID:** c_10204 ### Characteristics of the Growth Medium Class China Blue Lactose Agar inherits the functional characteristics of the **growth medium** class: - **Forms:** It exists as a liquid or gel. Gels, often solidified with agents like agar, provide physical support for colony formation. - **Composition:** It contains essential components such as nutrients, salts, carbohydrates, and potentially growth factors or antibiotics (supplements like serum or amino acids are common in the broader class to support fastidious organisms). - **Types:** Growth media are customized for specific purposes, including: - **Chemically Defined Media:** Where all components are known and synthesized. - **Selective Media:** Formulated to inhibit unwanted organisms while allowing target species to grow. - **Enrichment Media:** Used to boost specific organisms from mixed samples. ### Applications and Context In the field of microbiology, China Blue Lactose Agar is used for the isolation, cultivation, and experimentation of microorganisms. The broader category of growth media is utilized across various sectors: - **Research:** Studying microbial genetics and disease mechanisms. - **Medicine:** Culturing pathogens from patient samples for diagnosis. - **Industry:** Large-scale production of vaccines, enzymes, and biofuels in bioreactors. Historically, the development of such media has been pivotal for public health, enabling standardized diagnosis and treatment protocols (e.g., the Ogawa medium for tuberculosis in 1949). These tools ensure reproducibility in experiments and allow for the controlled manipulation of variables like pH and nutrient availability.