300 MANUAL OF MICROBIOLOGICAL METHODS 



Central, occupying a mid-position, e.g., a spore in the center of a spo- 

 rangium. 



Chains, four or more bacterial cells attached end to end. 



Chr ontogenesis, the production of color. 



Circular, round, with smooth edges, and over 1 mm in diameter. (Cf. 

 Punctiform,) 



Clavate, club-shaped; applied to a bacterial sporangium, indicates one 

 containing a subterminal spore. 



Coagulation, formation of a clot or curd; the solidification of a sol into a 

 gelatinous mass. 



Coccus {pi. -ci), a spherical organism. 



Collagenase, enzymelike substances which dissolve collagen. 



Colony, a visible group of microbes in a culture, derived from the repro- 

 duction of, usually, a single organism. 



Comma, a short curved rod; comma-shaped. (Cf. Spiral.) 



Compact, refers to sediment in the form of single fairly tenacious mass. 



Complement, a nonspecific heat-labile component of animal serum 

 which participates in antigen-antibody reactions. It is composed 

 of at least four fractions. 



Concave, presenting a depressed or hollow surface. 



Concentrically ringed, marked with rings, one inside the other. 



Consistency, degree of firmness, density, or solidity of a substance. 



Contoured, an irregular, smoothly undulating surface, like that of a 

 relief map. 



Crateriform, sl bowl-shaped liquefaction of the medium. 



Cultural characteristics, distinctive, typical, or distinguishing form of 

 growth in or on culture media. 



Cup, same as crateriform. 



Curd, precipitated milk protein consisting mostly of casein; may result 

 from coagulation by acid or by rennet. 



Curled, composed of parallel chains of cells in wavy strands, as in anthrax 

 colonies. 



Cylindrical, applied to a sporangium, indicates one with parallel sides. 



Cytolysis, a dissolving action on cells. 



Diastatic action, conversion of starch into simpler carbohydrates, such 

 as dextrins and sugars, by means of enzyme(s), e.g., diastase. 



Diphtheritic, diphtheriahke. 



Diplococci, cocci occurring in pairs. 



Dissociation, variation of organisms from the parent, particularly^ in 

 colony form, but in other characteristics as well. 



Drumstick (Capitate), applied to the shape of bacterial sporangia, indi- 

 cates that one end (the one containing the terminal spore) is larger 

 than the othe/ 



