Species vs. Strain — What's the Difference?

A classification of organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring.

Used in biotechnology and research to study genetic variation and adaptation.

Defined by shared characteristics and genetic similarity.

A subgroup within a species characterized by genetic or phenotypic distinctions.

Species boundaries can be blurred by hybridization and gene flow.

Often identified in the context of pathogenic organisms.

The basis for biological taxonomy and biodiversity studies.

Tracking strains is vital for understanding and controlling disease outbreaks.

Essential for conservation and ecological balance.

Strains can be engineered for specific traits in agriculture and industry.

A group of living organisms consisting of similar individuals capable of exchanging genes or interbreeding. The species is the principal natural taxonomic unit, ranking below a genus and denoted by a Latin binomial, e.g. Homo sapiens.

To pull, draw, or stretch tight

A kind or sort

(Physics) To cause distortion of (a body's parts or shape) by applying an external force; deform.

The visible form of each of the elements of consecrated bread and wine in the Eucharist.

To exert, use, or tax to the utmost

(Biology) A group of closely related organisms that are very similar to each other and are usually capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. The species is the fundamental category of taxonomic classification, ranking below a genus or subgenus. Species names are represented in binomial nomenclature by an uncapitalized Latin adjective or noun following a capitalized genus name, as in Ananas comosus, the pineapple, and Equus caballus, the horse.

To injure or impair by overuse or overexertion; wrench

(Logic) A class of individuals or objects grouped by virtue of their common attributes and assigned a common name; a division subordinate to a genus.

To damage or weaken by pressure or tension

(Chemistry) A set of atoms, molecules, ions, or other chemical entities that possess the same distinct characteristics with respect to a chemical process or measurement.

To force beyond the proper or reasonable limit

A kind, variety, or type

To pass (a liquid) through a filtering agent such as a strainer.

The outward appearance or form of the Eucharistic elements that is retained after their consecration.

To draw off or remove by filtration

Either of the consecrated elements of the Eucharist.

(Archaic) To embrace or clasp tightly; hug.

Type or kind. race.}}

To make strong or steady efforts; strive hard

A group of plants or animals having similar appearance.

To contract or exert one's muscles to the utmost.

A category in the classification of organisms, ranking below genus; a taxon at that rank.

To pull or push forcibly or violently

A particular type of atom, molecule, ion or other particle.

To be or become wrenched or twisted

(mineralogy) A mineral with a unique chemical formula whose crystals belong to a unique crystallographic system.

To be subjected to great stress

An image, an appearance, a spectacle.

To pass through a filtering agent

(obsolete) The image of something cast on a surface, or reflected from a surface, or refracted through a lens or telescope; a reflection.

The act of straining.

Visible or perceptible presentation; appearance; something perceived.

The state of being strained

(Christianity) Either of the two elements of the Eucharist after they have been consecrated.

Extreme or laborious effort, exertion, or work

Coin, or coined silver, gold, or other metal, used as a circulating medium; specie.

A great or excessive demand or stress on one's body, mind, or resources

A component part of compound medicine; a simple.

The state of being subjected to such demands or stresses

Plural of specie

A wrench, twist, or other physical injury resulting from excessive tension, effort, or use.

Visible or sensible presentation; appearance; a sensible percept received by the imagination; an image.

(Physics) Any of several kinds of deformation of the dimensions of a body when subjected to stress, as axial strain or elastic strain.

A group of individuals agreeing in common attributes, and designated by a common name; a conception subordinated to another conception, called a genus, or generic conception, from which it differs in containing or comprehending more attributes, and extending to fewer individuals. Thus, man is a species, under animal as a genus; and man, in its turn, may be regarded as a genus with respect to European, American, or the like, as species.

An exceptional degree or pitch

In science, a more or less permanent group of existing things or beings, associated according to attributes, or properties determined by scientific observation.

A group of bacteria or viruses that are genetically distinct from other groups of the same species.

A sort; a kind; a variety; as, a species of low cunning; a species of generosity; a species of cloth.

A group of cultivated plants or domestic animals of the same species that have distinctive characteristics but are not considered a separate breed or variety.

Coin, or coined silver, gold, or other metal, used as a circulating medium; specie.

The collective descendants of a common ancestor; a race, stock, line, or breed.

A public spectacle or exhibition.

Any of the various lines of ancestry united in an individual or a family; ancestry or lineage.

A component part of a compound medicine; a simple.

A kind or sort

The form or shape given to materials; fashion or shape; form; figure.

An inborn or inherited tendency or character

(biology) taxonomic group whose members can interbreed

An inherent quality; a streak

A specific kind of something;

The tone, tenor, or substance of a verbal utterance or of a particular action or behavior

Often strains(Music) A passage of expression; a tune or an air

A passage of poetic and especially lyrical expression.

An outburst or a flow of eloquent or impassioned language.

(archaic) Race; lineage, pedigree.

(biology) A particular variety of a microbe, virus, or other organism, usually a taxonomically infraspecific one.

(figurative) Hereditary character, quality, tendency, or disposition.

Any sustained note or movement; a song; a distinct portion of an ode or other poem; also, the pervading note, or burden, of a song, poem, etc.

Language that is eloquent, poetic, or otherwise heightened.

(rare) A kind or sort (of person etc.).

(obsolete) Treasure.

The act of straining, or the state of being strained.

A violent effort; an excessive and hurtful exertion or tension, as of the muscles.

An injury resulting from violent effort; a sprain.

A dimensionless measure of object deformation either referring to engineering strain or true strain.

(obsolete) The track of a deer.

(obsolete) To hold tightly, to clasp.

To apply a force or forces to by stretching out.

To damage by drawing, stretching, or the exertion of force.

To act upon, in any way, so as to cause change of form or volume, as when bending a beam.

To exert or struggle (to do something), especially to stretch (one's senses, faculties etc.) beyond what is normal or comfortable.

To stretch beyond its proper limit; to do violence to, in terms of intent or meaning.

(transitive) To separate solid from liquid by passing through a strainer or colander

(intransitive) To percolate; to be filtered.

To make uneasy or unnatural; to produce with apparent effort; to force; to constrain.

To urge with importunity; to press.

(transitive) hug somebody; to hold somebody tightly.

(obsolete) To beget, generate (of light), engender, copulate (both of animals and humans), lie with, be born, come into the world.

Race; stock; generation; descent; family.

Hereditary character, quality, or disposition.

Rank; a sort.

A cultural subvariety that is only slightly differentiated.

The act of straining, or the state of being strained.

A violent effort; an excessive and hurtful exertion or tension, as of the muscles; as, he lifted the weight with a strain; the strain upon a ship's rigging in a gale; also, the hurt or injury resulting; a sprain.

A portion of music divided off by a double bar; a complete musical period or sentence; a movement, or any rounded subdivision of a movement.

A change of form or dimensions of a solid or liquid mass, produced by a stress.

Any sustained note or movement; a song; a distinct portion of an ode or other poem; also, the pervading note, or burden, of a song, poem, oration, book, etc.; theme; motive; manner; style; also, a course of action or conduct; as, he spoke in a noble strain; there was a strain of woe in his story; a strain of trickery appears in his career.

Turn; tendency; inborn disposition. Cf. 1st Strain.

To draw with force; to extend with great effort; to stretch; as, to strain a rope; to strain the shrouds of a ship; to strain the cords of a musical instrument.

To act upon, in any way, so as to cause change of form or volume, as forces on a beam to bend it.

To exert to the utmost; to ply vigorously.

To stretch beyond its proper limit; to do violence to, in the matter of intent or meaning; as, to strain the law in order to convict an accused person.

To injure by drawing, stretching, or the exertion of force; as, the gale strained the timbers of the ship.

To injure in the muscles or joints by causing to make too strong an effort; to harm by overexertion; to sprain; as, to strain a horse by overloading; to strain the wrist; to strain a muscle.

To squeeze; to press closely.

To make uneasy or unnatural; to produce with apparent effort; to force; to constrain.

To urge with importunity; to press; as, to strain a petition or invitation.

To press, or cause to pass, through a strainer, as through a screen, a cloth, or some porous substance; to purify, or separate from extraneous or solid matter, by filtration; to filter; as, to strain milk through cloth.

To make violent efforts.

To percolate; to be filtered; as, water straining through a sandy soil.

(physics) deformation of a physical body under the action of applied forces

Difficulty that causes worry or emotional tension;

A succession of notes forming a distinctive sequence;

(psychology) nervousness resulting from mental stress;

A special variety of domesticated animals within a species;

(biology) a group of organisms within a species that differ in trivial ways from similar groups;

A lineage or race of people

Injury to a muscle (often caused by overuse); results in swelling and pain

Pervading note of an utterance;

An effortful attempt to attain a goal

An intense or violent exertion

The act of singing;

To exert much effort or energy;

Test the limits of;

Use to the utmost; exert vigorously or to full capacity;

Separate by passing through a sieve or other straining device to separate out coarser elements;

Make tense and uneasy or nervous or anxious;

Stretch or force to the limit;

Remove by passing through a filter;

Rub through a strainer or process in an electric blender;

Alter the shape of (something) by stress;

Yes, strains within a species can interbreed, as they belong to the same species and are capable of producing fertile offspring.

New species are identified through a combination of morphological, genetic, and sometimes ecological studies that demonstrate distinct species characteristics and reproductive isolation.

Genetic sequencing is crucial for identifying strains, as it allows scientists to detect specific genetic variations that distinguish one strain from another.

A species is defined by organisms sharing common characteristics and the ability to interbreed and produce fertile offspring.

Both species and strains contribute to biodiversity by adding to the genetic, ecological, and phenotypic diversity within ecosystems.

Over time and under certain evolutionary pressures, strains might diverge enough to become separate species, a process known as speciation.

Conservation efforts for species focus on preserving biodiversity and ecological roles, while efforts for strains may focus on preserving genetic diversity within a species.

In biology, a strain is a genetic variant or subtype within a species, often identified by specific genetic or phenotypic differences.

Strains are important because they can exhibit different properties, such as disease virulence or resistance to treatments, influencing medical approaches and research.

Not all strains of a microorganism are dangerous; some are benign or even beneficial, such as certain bacteria in the human microbiome.

Strain variation is significant in vaccine development as vaccines must be designed to be effective against different strains of a pathogen.

A strain might be engineered in a laboratory for research, to produce specific compounds, or to study disease mechanisms and potential treatments.

Scientists use detailed genetic analysis, morphological comparisons, and reproductive isolation criteria to differentiate closely related species.

Yes, environmental changes can exert selective pressures that lead to the development of new strains with adaptive traits.

The classification of species and strains can change with new scientific evidence, reflecting our evolving understanding of biology.