# Cysteine lactose electrolyte deficient agar

> culture medium used in microbiology

**Wikidata**: [Q1022364](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1022364)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cystine–lactose–electrolyte-deficient_agar)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cysteine-lactose-electrolyte-deficient-agar

## Summary
Cysteine lactose electrolyte deficient agar (CLED agar) is a culture medium used in microbiology to support the growth of microorganisms, cells, or tissues in a controlled laboratory environment. It functions as a liquid or solid gel substance that provides essential nutrients and physical support for cultivation. This medium is part of the broader category of growth media used for scientific research, medical diagnostics, and industrial applications.

## Key Facts
- **Aliases**: CLED agar, CLED (gélose), Gélose CLED, CLED (gelose), cystine lactose electrolyte deficient Agar.
- **Classification**: Instance of "growth medium."
- **Primary Use**: Culture medium for microorganisms in microbiology.
- **Forms**: Exists as liquid or gel; gels typically use agar for solid support.
- **Wikipedia Title**: Cystine–lactose–electrolyte-deficient agar.
- **Language Availability**: Wikipedia entries available in 8 languages (German, English, Spanish, French, Japanese, Portuguese, Romanian, Thai).
- **Freebase ID**: /m/0dhd64.
- **Microsoft Academic ID**: 2776094157 (discontinued).
- **Sitelink Count**: 8.

## FAQs
### Q: What is the primary function of Cysteine lactose electrolyte deficient agar?
A: It is a growth medium designed to cultivate microorganisms, cells, or tissues by providing necessary nutrients, moisture, and physical support in a laboratory setting.

### Q: What forms does this medium take?
A: It is available in liquid form or as a gel, with the gel version often using agar to provide solid structural support for colony formation.

### Q: What are the identifiers associated with this medium?
A: It is identified by the Wikipedia title "Cystine–lactose–electrolyte-deficient agar," Freebase ID /m/0dhd64, and a discontinued Microsoft Academic ID 2776094157.

## Why It Matters
Cysteine lactose electrolyte deficient agar is a foundational tool in microbiology and related fields. It enables the cultivation of organisms outside their natural environments, which is critical for diagnosing pathogens, conducting biological research, and producing vaccines or bioproducts. By offering customizable conditions—such as nutrient composition—it facilitates breakthroughs in medicine, genetics, and industrial biotechnology, directly contributing to public health and scientific innovation.

## Notable For
- **Versatility**: Can be formulated as either a liquid or solid gel medium.
- **Global Standardization**: Recognized across multiple languages and scientific communities, evidenced by 8 Wikipedia sitelinks.
- **Specificity**: As a growth medium, it can be tailored (e.g., selective or chemically defined) to support specific organisms or applications.
- **Broad Utility**: Used in diverse sectors including medical diagnostics, biological research, and industrial production.

## Body
### Definition and Classification
Cysteine lactose electrolyte deficient agar, widely recognized by the acronym CLED agar, is a specific type of growth medium used extensively in microbiology. It is classified as an "instance of" a growth medium, which is a broader category of liquid or gel substances designed to cultivate microorganisms, cells, or tissues. The medium provides essential nutrients, salts, carbohydrates, and moisture required for biological growth.

### Forms and Composition
This medium is available in two primary forms:
- **Liquid (Broths)**: Used for growing organisms in suspension.
- **Gel (Agar Plates)**: Solidified using agar to provide a stable surface for colony formation and isolation.

The composition of growth media like CLED agar often includes nutrients, salts, and carbohydrates, and may be supplemented with growth factors or inhibitors to select for specific organisms.

### Technical Identifiers and Metadata
The entity is formally documented across several knowledge bases:
- **Wikipedia**: Title "Cystine–lactose–electrolyte-deficient agar," with sitelinks in 8 languages (German, English, Spanish, French, Japanese, Portuguese, Romanian, Thai).
- **Freebase**: Identifier /m/0dhd64, with references dating to October 28, 2013.
- **Microsoft Academic**: ID 2776094157 (service discontinued).
- **Sitelink Count**: 8.

### Applications in Context
As a growth medium, CLED agar shares the broad utility of its category. It is used in:
- **Research**: For studying microbial genetics and cell biology.
- **Medicine**: For culturing pathogens to diagnose diseases.
- **Industry**: For the large-scale production of enzymes, vaccines, and other bioproducts.

### Related Concepts
CLED agar is a specific realization of a growth medium, which is defined as a liquid or gel used for the growth of microorganisms or cells. The general concept of a growth medium includes various types such as chemically defined media, selective media, and serum-free media, all of which are critical for isolating, cultivating, and experimenting on biological entities in controlled settings.

## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013