The use of the Gram stain in microbiology is important because it differentiates
A) Bacteria from Archaea.
B) prokaryotic from eukaryotic cells.
C) bacterial cells with different types of cell walls.
D) archaeal cells with different types of metabolism.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The Gram stain differentiates bacterial cells with different types of cell walls. The cell walls of Gram-negative bacteria have a thin layer of peptidoglycan surrounded by an outer membrane, while the cell walls of Gram-positive bacteria have a thick layer of peptidoglycan. The stain allows for differentiation between these two types of bacteria. It does not differentiate between Bacteria and Archaea or prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, nor does it distinguish between archaeal cells with different types of metabolism.

The Use of the Gram Stain in Microbiology Is Important