User:Caron.m/sandbox
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This page is about strains in taxonomy. For biomolecular strain, see Strain (chemistry).
In biology, a strain is a low-level taxonomic rank applied to a "pure" population of organisms, usually within a species. Strains are often seen as inherently artificial concepts, characterized by a specific intent for genetic isolation.[1] This is most easily observed in microbiology where strains are derived from a single cell colony and are typically quarantined by the physical constraints of a Petri dish. Strains are also commonly cataloged in virology, botany, and rodents used in experimental studies. Strains may occasionally change over time as a result of genetic aberrations.[1]