Reference no: EM132537676

Discussion Questions

1. Why do the slides have to be heat fixed before staining? What do you think would happen if the slides were not heat fixed and then stained?

2. In a simple stain what would be the consequence of leaving a stain on for too long? What would be the result if you did not leave the stain on long enough?

3. Using the information from the lab "predict" what would happen if you made the following mistakes completing your Gram Stain.

a. Failure to apply the decolorizer

b. Failure to add the iodine

c. Failure to apply the safranin

d. Applying the safranin before the crystal violet

e. Applying too many bacterial cells to the smear

f. Not leaving the crystal violet on for a full minute

4. Compare and contrast your Gram stain slides to the prepared gram stain slides. How are they similar and how are they different? What do you think caused these differences?

Application of Staining

1. There are other staining procedures beyond simple staining and differential staining. Examples include endospore, acid-fast, capsule, and flagella stains. Please pick one staining technique to research and answer the following questions:

· That is the theory behind the staining technique, what stains are used, how are they applied, what portion of the bacteria are they reacting with

· How is this stain used to differentiate or identify bacterial cells or cell structures?

· Describe the staining technique. List and describe the steps as necessary.

· Find (and cite) a picture example of your staining technique

· Give examples of the bacterial species or structures that are identified with your stain

· Give an example of how this stain would be used in a health care setting.

2. Gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria respond differently to antibiotics. Please explain why this is and the implications this has for antibiotic treatment in individuals