Microbiology Task 1

Introduction: Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria have a big difference in cell wall structure that is examined during the gram staining lab. Gram-positive bacteria have thick layers of peptidoglycan. When these bacteria are stained, using a crystal violet dye, they will remain purple. Gram-negative bacteria have thin peptidoglycan walls, which do not retain the purple dye. It must be counterstained with safranin turning them pink.
Materials and Methods: There are four basic steps for gram staining. The first step is to flood the cells with crystal violet dye for 1 minute and then rinse. Step 2 is to put iodine on the cells so that the violet dye sticks more. Step 3 is to decolorize with alcohol to dissolve the cell membrane and then rinse with water. This...