MICROPLATE Meaning and
Definition
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A microplate refers to a small, flat and rectangular plate commonly made of plastic or glass that is used in laboratory settings for various scientific applications. It typically consists of numerous small wells or depressions arranged in a grid formation in order to hold and facilitate experimentation with minute quantities of substances, such as chemicals, biological samples, or reagents.
Microplates come in various formats, including 96-well, 384-well, or even higher density configurations, with each well having a specific volume capacity, usually ranging from tens to hundreds of microliters. The arrangement and density of wells allow for multiple experiments or samples to be conducted simultaneously, making microplates highly efficient and time-saving for high-throughput testing.
These plates are often used in fields such as molecular biology, biochemistry, drug discovery, genomics, and cell culture. They enable scientists to perform diverse applications such as enzyme assays, immunoassays, DNA amplification (PCR), cell growth and analysis, and many other types of experiments requiring the handling of small volumes.
Microplates can be easily manipulated by automated liquid handling systems, enhancing precision, reproducibility, and throughput in laboratory workflows. They are also compatible with various detection methods, such as spectrophotometry or fluorescence, allowing for the measurement or detection of specific properties or reactions occurring within each well.
Overall, microplates offer a versatile platform for conducting numerous scientific experiments simultaneously, making them a fundamental tool in modern laboratory research.
Common Misspellings for MICROPLATE
Etymology of MICROPLATE
The word "microplate" is derived from the combination of two components: "micro-" and "plate".
1. "Micro-" is a prefix derived from the Greek word "mikros", meaning small. It signifies something extremely small or on a microscale. It is commonly used in scientific terms to indicate something of a small size.
2. "Plate" is a noun that originated from the Old English word "plat", meaning a flat, thin, and usually rectangular piece of material. In a scientific context, a plate refers to a flat vessel or container, typically made of plastic or glass, used for various laboratory experiments.
By combining "micro-" and "plate", the term "microplate" is formed. It refers to a small, flat vessel or container utilized in scientific experiments on a microscale.
