5 Questions
What is the primary purpose of Gram staining in microbiology?
To differentiate bacteria into Gram-positive and Gram-negative
Who introduced the Gram staining technique?
Hans Christian Gram
What happens to the cell walls of Gram-positive bacteria during the decolorization step of Gram staining?
The thick cell wall dehydrates and shrinks, closing the pores
Which stain is used as the primary stain in Gram staining?
Crystal Violet
What is the role of the mordant in Gram staining?
To fix the primary stain to the bacterial cells
Study Notes
Gram Staining
- The primary purpose of Gram staining in microbiology is to distinguish between Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria based on the composition of their cell walls.
History of Gram Staining
- The Gram staining technique was introduced by Hans Christian Gram, a Danish bacteriologist.
Decolorization Step
- During the decolorization step of Gram staining, the cell walls of Gram-positive bacteria retain the primary stain, while the cell walls of Gram-negative bacteria lose the stain.
Primary Stain
- Crystal violet is the primary stain used in Gram staining, which binds to the peptidoglycan layer in bacterial cell walls.
Role of the Mordant
- The mordant, usually iodine, helps to bind the primary stain to the bacterial cell wall, improving the staining process.
Test your knowledge of Gram's staining technique with this quiz. Learn about the principles and procedures involved in differentiating bacteria into Gram-positive and Gram-negative.
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