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Done Micro BM6 Gram Staining Lab (C3)

Last updated 24 days ago

8 questions

Note from the author:

HS-LS- 1-2, RST 9-10,3, WHST 9-10.4

Instructions

HS-LS- 1-2, RST 9-10,3, WHST 9-10.4

3

2

1

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6

15

Question 1

1.

Question 2

2.

What would you observe if you decolorized your slide too much? How would your cells appear?

Question 3

3.

How would you describe the morphology and arrangement of the cells in your stained preparations?

Question 4

4.

You are looking at the smear of the mixture. All of the cells, cocci and bacilli, appear deep purple. What could have gone wrong?

Question 5

5.

Explain the relationship between the observed Gram reaction and bacterial cell wall structure.

Question 6

6.

You mistakenly confuse the primary stain and counterstain. You initially stain the smear with safranin, add iodine, and then decolorize and counterstain with crystal violet. How does your mixed culture now appear when viewed with oil immersion

Question 7

7.

CCC: Patterns within Structures/Functions and Systems
A doctor suspects a patient has an infection caused by a Gram-positive bacterium, but your lab's Gram stain of the specimen reveals a Gram-negative bacterium. The doctor questions the accuracy of your procedure.
Prepare a detailed response to the doctor that addresses the following points:
Reassurance and Explanation: Explain the key steps of the Gram stain procedure to reassure the doctor that your technique was correct.
Scientific Justification: Provide a scientific rationale for the different staining outcomes by describing the structural differences in the cell envelopes of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.
Future Actions: Outline how the Gram stain results will be used to expedite the identification process using the principles of the 5 I's and selective/differential media to ensure a swift and accurate treatment plan.

Question 8

8.

CER: Claim, Reasoning, and Evidence

The Significance of Bacterial Cell Wall Variations in Medical Treatment

Bacterial cell walls play a crucial role in determining the effectiveness of medical treatments, particularly antibiotics. There are primarily two types of bacterial cell walls: Gram-positive and Gram-negative. Gram-positive bacteria have a thick peptidoglycan layer that retains the crystal violet stain used in Gram staining, making them appear purple under a microscope. This structure makes them more susceptible to antibiotics like penicillin, which target cell wall synthesis. In contrast, Gram-negative bacteria possess a thinner peptidoglycan layer and an outer membrane that acts as a barrier to many antibiotics, resulting in a pink coloration after staining. This outer membrane contains lipopolysaccharides, which can trigger strong immune responses and contribute to antibiotic resistance. Understanding these differences is vital for developing targeted treatments, as certain antibiotics are more effective against one type than the other, underscoring the importance of precise bacterial identification in clinical settings.

The Gram stain is a foundational diagnostic tool in microbiology. Based on the provided information on Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, and assuming the Gram stain had never been invented, would it still be critically important to find a method to differentiate between these two types of bacteria for medical treatment?
Claim: Make a specific claim that directly answers the question.
Evidence: Use specific details from the provided text to support your claim.
Reasoning: Explain the scientific principles that connect the structural differences in bacterial cell walls to the effectiveness of antibiotics, justifying your claim.
See the rubric to ensure you get the greatest amount of points for your answer.