Which of the following best describes a lobate colony in microbiology?

• A. A colony with smooth, entire edges and a circular shape
• B. A colony with edges that have deep, irregular indentations resembling lobes
• C. A colony with a raised, dome-shaped elevation
• D. A colony with a filamentous, hair-like margin

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that in microbiology, colony morphology describes the visible characteristics of microbial colonies grown on solid media, including shape, margin, elevation, and texture.
2. Focus on the term 'lobate' which specifically refers to the shape of the colony's edge or margin.
3. Recall that a 'lobate' margin means the edges of the colony have deep, irregular indentations or projections that resemble lobes, rather than being smooth or uniform.
4. Compare this to other margin types: 'entire' means smooth edges, 'filamentous' means hair-like projections, and elevation describes the colony's height, not the edge shape.
5. Conclude that the best description of a lobate colony is one with edges that have deep, irregular indentations resembling lobes.