Strain (biology)

  In biology, strain is a low-level taxonomic rank used in three related ways.

Additional recommended knowledge

Essential Laboratory Skills Guide

What is the Correct Way to Check Repeatability in Balances?

Safe Weighing Range Ensures Accurate Results

Microbiology/Virology

A strain is a genetic variant or subtype of a virus or bacterium. For example, a "flu strain" is a certain biological form of the influenza or "flu" virus. Compare clade.

Plants

The term has no official status in botany; the term cultivar is instead used.

Rodents

A mouse or a rat strain is a group of animals that is genetically uniform. Strains are used in laboratory experiments. Mouse strains can be inbred, mutated or genetically engineered, while rat strains are usually inbred.