Lab 2 - Bacterial colony versus bacterial cell morphology

Question 1

bacterial colony

Answer 1

group of bacterial cells

Question 2

characteristics of colonies

Answer 2

size, form/shape, elevation, margin, texture, appearance and pigmentation

Question 3

mixed broth culture

Answer 3

contains two distinct bacterial species - should be identifiable on a streak plate

Question 4

cell morphologies

Answer 4

cocci, bacilli, spiral

Question 5

staining techniques

Answer 5

used to help visualize aspects of microbes through microscope since they are often small and colourless

• enhance contrast
• can kill cells/ alter features though

Question 6

super-resolution microscopy

Answer 6

see well beyond 200nm resolution limit

Question 7

simple stains

Answer 7

colour, or make visible tissues, whole cells and cellular features - but dont distinguish cell types or cell structures

e.g. methylene blue - binds non-specifically to cell surface

Question 8

methylene blue

Answer 8

simple stain

distinguishes cell from background

Question 9

negative staining

Answer 9

colours background material

Question 10

pathogens

Answer 10

disease-producing microbes

Question 11

smear

Answer 11

a small amount of culture spread in a very thin film on the surface of the slide.

Question 12

solid inoculum smears

Answer 12

place loopful of distilled water on slide first

Question 13

heat fix

Answer 13

pass slide through flame 3 times

makes non-viable and fixes it

Question 14

simple stains used

Answer 14

methylene blue
safranin
crystal violet