Strain (biology) facts for kids
A strain is a special group of living things that are a bit different from others in their species. Think of it like a specific type within a larger family. Scientists use the word "strain" a lot when they talk about tiny living things like viruses and bacteria, but also for certain plants and even rodents used in science experiments.
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What is a Strain in Tiny Living Things?
A strain is a specific version of a microorganism, like a virus, bacterium, or fungus. It's like a unique family member with slightly different genetic instructions. For example, when you hear about a "flu strain," it means a particular type of the influenza virus.
Why Strains are Important for Bacteria and Viruses
Bacteria, archaea, and viruses don't have "species" in the same way that animals or plants do. This is because they don't reproduce in the same way that many other living things do. Even though bacteria can swap DNA with each other, they can do it with different kinds of bacteria. This makes them unique. Because of this, strains are very important for telling different types of bacteria apart.
Plant Strains
In the world of plants, the word "strain" is used a bit differently. It often refers to a group of plants that all came from one special plant and share a unique feature. This special plant might have been changed by scientists through breeding or other methods, or it might have had a natural genetic mutation.
How Plant Strains are Made
Imagine a special rice plant that has new genetic material added to it. All the new rice plants that grow from this changed plant are part of a new strain. They all share the same unique genetic code. Each strain gets a special name or number. Farmers can then breed these strains with other rice plants to create even better types. If these new plants are good and their traits stay the same when they grow, they get a new name called a cultivar and can be grown by farmers.
Rodent Strains for Science
When scientists talk about mouse or rat strains, they mean a group of these animals that are all very similar genetically. These special strains are used in laboratory experiments. For example, mouse strains can be made through inbreeding (breeding closely related animals) or by genetic engineering. Rat strains are usually made by inbreeding. Having genetically similar animals helps scientists make sure their experiments are fair and accurate.
Images for kids
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H1N1 viral strain, a type of flu virus
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The Wistar rat, a common strain used in science
See also
In Spanish: Cepa para niños
