What differentiates Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria?
A) the type of DNA or RNA they contain
B) their ability or lack of ability to fix nitrogen
C) whether they are aerobic or anaerobic
D) whether their cell walls have a thin or thick layer of peptidoglycan
E) their specific rRNA sequences

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Gram-positive bacteria have a thick layer of peptidoglycan in their cell walls, while Gram-negative bacteria have a thin layer of peptidoglycan in addition to an outer membrane containing lipopolysaccharides (LPS). This difference in cell wall structure is what allows for the distinction between these two major groups of bacteria using the Gram stain technique.

What Differentiates Gram-Positive and Gram-Negative Bacteria