Examples of selective media include: eosin methylene blue, MacConkey agar, Terrific Broth, YM (yeast and mold), hektoen enteric agar, xylose lysine, and Mannitol salt agar.
Eosin methylene blue inhibits Gram-positive bacteria due to the presence of methylene blue, permitting only the growth of Gram-negative bacteria.
YM has a low pH, hampering the growth of bacteria.
Xylose lysine is selective for Gram-negative bacteria.
Mannitol salt agar encourages the growth of Gram-positive bacteria and is distinctive for mannitol.
Terrific Broth with glycerol is used specifically for growing recombinant strains of E. coli.
Hektoen enteric agar is designed for Gram-negative bacteria.
Examples of differential media include: blood agar, X-gal plates, Streptococcuseosin methylene blue, and MacConkey agar.
Blood agar contains bovine heart blood which becomes see-through when hemolytic activity occurs.
X-gal plates are used to identify lac operon mutants.
MacConkey agar helps differentiate bacteria based on their capacity for lactose fermentation.
Streptococcuseosin methylene blue distinguishes bacteria based on its ability to ferment lactose and sucrose.