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Multiple Choice
Which of these is considered a differential stain and why?
A
Flagella stain:differentiates the flagella from the rest of the structures of the cell.
B
Capsule stain:differentiates the capsule from the background behind the bacterium.
C
Gram-stain:differentiates two types of bacteria, gram-positive and gram-negative.
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the concept of a differential stain: A differential stain is a technique used in microbiology to distinguish between different types of microorganisms or different structures within a single organism based on their staining properties.
Examine the purpose of each stain mentioned: The flagella stain is used to visualize the flagella, the capsule stain highlights the capsule, and the Gram stain differentiates between two major types of bacteria.
Identify the key feature of a differential stain: It should be able to differentiate between different types of cells or structures, not just highlight a single feature.
Analyze the Gram stain: The Gram stain is a classic example of a differential stain because it categorizes bacteria into two groups, Gram-positive and Gram-negative, based on the differences in their cell wall composition.
Conclude why the Gram stain is considered a differential stain: It provides critical information about the bacterial cell wall structure, which is essential for identification and classification, making it a differential stain.