10 Questions
Which scientist developed the Gram staining technique?
Hans Christian Gram
What is the purpose of Gram staining?
To identify and classify bacteria
Which component of the bacterial cell wall can be degraded with time by enzymes?
Peptidoglycan
What is the composition of lipopolysaccharide?
Lipids and sugars
Which type of bacteria is stained by the capsule staining technique?
Gram negative bacteria
Which technique is used to observe individual colonies?
Streak plate technique
What is the purpose of inoculating a nutrient agar plate with a pure culture?
To label the plate
What is the appearance that colonial morphology refers to?
The appearance of colonies on a nutrient agar plate
What is the difference between pure and mixed cultures on an agar plate?
Pure cultures have similar looking colonies
What is a colony?
A single cell dividing many times
Study Notes
Gram Staining Technique
- Developed by Hans Christian Gram
- Purpose: to differentiate bacteria into two groups based on their cell wall composition
Bacterial Cell Wall
- Peptidoglycan (also known as murein) can be degraded with time by enzymes
Lipopolysaccharide Composition
- Composed of lipid A, core polysaccharide, and O antigen
Capsule Staining Technique
- Used to stain bacteria with a polysaccharide capsule
Observing Individual Colonies
- Technique: pour plate method
Inoculating a Nutrient Agar Plate
- Purpose: to isolate and grow a pure culture of bacteria
Colonial Morphology
- Refers to the appearance of a colony, including its shape, size, color, and texture
Pure and Mixed Cultures
- Pure culture: a culture that contains only one type of bacteria
- Mixed culture: a culture that contains multiple types of bacteria
- Difference: on an agar plate, a pure culture will form a single, uniform colony, while a mixed culture will form multiple colonies with different appearances
Colony
- A visible growth of bacteria on an agar plate, resulting from the growth of a single bacterial cell
Test your knowledge of bacterial stains and the Gram staining technique with this quiz! Learn about the two colors used in the staining process, how it helps identify and classify bacteria as Gram positive or Gram negative, and the history behind its development by Hans Christian Gram. Explore the role of peptidoglycan, a polymer, in this process.
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