Answer :
Final answer:
Selective and differential media are specialized culture mediums used to determine the presence of specific enzymes or traits in bacteria. They inhibit the growth of unwanted microorganisms and allow scientists to observe the growth and characteristics of different types of bacteria.
Explanation:
The specialized medium that can determine if a bacterium contains several different types of enzymes or characteristics is called selective and differential media. Selective media inhibit the growth of unwanted microorganisms and support the growth of the organism of interest. Differential media make it easy to distinguish colonies of different bacteria by a change in color or appearance.
An example of selective and differential media is MacConkey agar. It contains bile salts and crystal violet, which interfere with the growth of many gram-positive bacteria and favor the growth of gram-negative bacteria.
Using these specialized media, scientists can observe the growth and characteristics of different types of bacteria, allowing them to analyze and determine the presence of specific enzymes or traits.
