Streak seeding is a method first described by Enrico Stura to induce crystallization in a straight line into a sitting or hanging drop for protein crystallization

Protein crystallization

Most Proteins and many biological macromolecules differ from "small" molecules because the environment in which they function is aqueous. Therefore most biological macromolecules can be prompted to form crystals when the solution in which they are dissolved becomes supersaturated. The manner in...

. The purpose is to control nucleation

Nucleation

Nucleation is the extremely localized budding of a distinct thermodynamic phase. Some examples of phases that may form by way of nucleation in liquids are gaseous bubbles, crystals or glassy regions. Creation of liquid droplets in saturated vapor is also characterized by nucleation...

 and understand the parameters that make crystals

Crystal

A crystal or crystalline solid is a solid material whose constituent atoms, molecules, or ions are arranged in an orderly repeating pattern extending in all three spatial dimensions. The scientific study of crystals and crystal formation is known as crystallography...

 grow. It is also used to test any particular set of conditions to check if crystals could grow under such conditions.

The technique is relatively simple. A cat

Cat

The cat , also known as the domestic cat or housecat to distinguish it from other felids and felines, is a small, usually furry, domesticated, carnivorous mammal that is valued by humans for its companionship and for its ability to hunt vermin and household pests...

 whisker is used to dislodge seeds from a crystal. The whisker is passed through the drop starting from one side of the drop and ending on the opposite side of the drop in one smooth motion. To allow for vapour diffusion

Diffusion

Molecular diffusion, often called simply diffusion, is the thermal motion of all particles at temperatures above absolute zero. The rate of this movement is a function of temperature, viscosity of the fluid and the size of the particles...

equilibration, the well in which the drop has been placed is resealed. The same procedure is repeated for all the drops whose conditions need testing.