Name _________________________________ Section __________
Preparation of Smears and Simple Staining – Assignment – 7 points
1. Why is it important to use a small amount of bacteria when making a smear? Give at least 2 reasons.
(2 pts)
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2. What are the two reasons for “fixing” a smear? (2 pts)
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3. Simple staining is useful for determining what three characteristics of a bacterial cell? (1.5 pts)
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4. With respect to bacteria, define morphological arrangement. Explain thoroughly! (1.5 pts)
Alexa Campanella
Summer23
If a larger amount of bacteria is used, it makes it more difficult to view the
morphology of individual cells
If a large sample is used, the over-crowds the slide.
Fixing can make the cell wall more permeable for any type of stain.
Fixing also enhances the adherence of bacterial cells to the slide used in a
microscope.
Cell morphology
Size
Morphological arrangement
Morphological arrangement describes the appearance of different groups or
colonies of bacteria. This includes the size, shape, and structure of bacteria. The
three basic morphological arrangements of bacteria are spiral, coccus, and
bacillus. There are other types as well including corkscrew and comma.
