culture medium

A culture medium is a specially prepared substance used to grow, support, and observe microorganisms, cells, or tissues outside of their natural environment. It provides essential nutrients like sugars, proteins, minerals, and sometimes growth factors that these living entities need to survive and multiply. Think of it as a balanced "recipe" that creates the right conditions for cells or microbes to thrive in a laboratory setting, enabling scientists to study, identify, or produce them for research, medical, or industrial purposes.