Normally, the presence of a specific gene or an allele of a gene confers upon the cell the ability to grow in the selective medium.

A selective medium for G. vaginalis is colistin-oxolinic acid blood agar.

Wort Agar, a selective medium commonly used in microbiological settings.

Tissue or fluid samples are tested for the presence of a specific pathogen, which is determined by growth in a selective or differential medium.

Selenite broth is used as a selective medium for the isolation of Salmonella species.

Plasmid retention rate is the proportion of cells containing plasmid during exponential growth in selective medium.

Ashdown's medium, a selective medium containing gentamicin, may be required for cultures taken from non-sterile sites.

Burkholderia cepacia medium may be a useful alternative selective medium in non-endemic areas, where Ashdown's is not available.

This medium is also known as an "indicator medium" and a "low selective medium".

Some plants species can be transformed just by dipping the flowers into suspension of Agrobacterium and then planting the seeds in a selective medium.