Differential staining

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Differential staining

Differential staining (pronunciation: dif·​fer·​en·​tial stain·​ing) is a technique used in microscopy to differentiate between different types of microorganisms or structures within a single organism. This is achieved by using different types of stains that react differently to different types of organisms or structures.

Etymology

The term "differential staining" comes from the fact that this technique allows for the differentiation between different types of organisms or structures based on how they react to different stains. The word "differential" comes from the Latin word "differens" which means "to carry away" and the word "staining" comes from the Old English word "stæning" which means "coloring".

Types of Differential Staining

There are several types of differential staining techniques, including:

  • Gram staining: This is the most common differential staining technique. It differentiates bacteria into two broad groups: Gram-positive and Gram-negative, based on the chemical and physical properties of their cell walls.
  • Endospore staining: This technique is used to stain endospores, which are a type of dormant, tough, and non-reproductive structure produced by certain bacteria.

Related Terms

  • Counterstain: A stain with color contrasting to the principal stain, making the stained structure easily visible.
  • Mordant: A substance used to set or stabilize stains or dyes, it may be used to intensify the stain or to coat a structure to make it more visible.
  • Decolorization: The process of removing stain from a specimen under the microscope, usually by washing with alcohol or an alcohol-acetone solution.

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