Strain (biology)
Strain (biology)
Strain (/streɪn/), in the field of biology, refers to a genetic variant or subtype of a microorganism, such as a virus, bacteria, or fungus. The term originates from the Latin word stirps, meaning lineage or descent.
Definition
A strain is a genetic variant or subtype of a microorganism. For example, a strain may refer to a version of a species that has a slightly different genetic makeup from other members of the same species. This can result in different characteristics, such as resistance to certain antibiotics or toxins, or the ability to metabolize certain types of nutrients.
Usage in Virology
In virology, a strain is a virus subtype. For example, the influenza virus has many different strains, such as H1N1 and H3N2, which are named based on the types of hemagglutinin and neuraminidase they express.
Usage in Bacteriology
In bacteriology, a strain refers to a genetic variant of a bacterium. For example, Escherichia coli O157:H7 is a strain of E. coli that produces a certain type of toxin and can cause severe illness in humans.
Usage in Mycology
In mycology, a strain is a genetic variant or subtype of a fungus. For example, Candida albicans has many different strains, some of which are more virulent than others.
Related Terms
- Genotype: The genetic makeup of an organism or group of organisms.
- Phenotype: The set of observable characteristics of an organism resulting from the interaction of its genotype with the environment.
- Subspecies: A taxonomic category that ranks below species, usually a fairly permanent geographically isolated race.
- Variant: A form or version of something that differs in some respect from other forms of the same thing or from a standard.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Strain (biology)
- Wikipedia's article - Strain (biology)
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