What term describes the properties and characteristics of colonies such as shape, margin, and elevation?

Colony morphology is the term used to describe the properties and characteristics of colonies, including their shape, margin (the edge of the colony), and elevation (how the colony grows in relation to the agar surface). This terminology is crucial in microbiology as it helps scientists and researchers identify and differentiate between various types of microorganisms based on the visual characteristics of their colonies on solid media. By assessing colony morphology, one can gather essential information about the organism’s identity, growth conditions, and potential behavior, which is fundamental for classification and further study.

In contrast, colony structure does not specifically focus on the descriptive characteristics such as shape and margin but may refer to the internal features of the colony. Isolated characteristics could imply specific properties of individual cells rather than the entire colony's attributes. Cell arrangement pertains to how individual cells group together, such as in chains or clusters, and is distinct from how those cells form visible colonies on a plate.