Gram staining

Gram Staining

Gram staining (pronounced /ɡræm ˈsteɪnɪŋ/) is a method of staining used in microbiology to differentiate bacterial species into two large groups (Gram-positive and Gram-negative). The name comes from the Danish bacteriologist Hans Christian Gram, who developed the technique in 1884.

Etymology

The term "Gram staining" is derived from the name of its inventor, Hans Christian Gram, a Danish bacteriologist. He developed this staining technique in 1884 to differentiate bacterial cells in lung tissue samples. The word "staining" comes from the Old English word "stæning," which means to color or dye.

Procedure

The Gram stain procedure distinguishes between Gram positive and Gram negative groups by coloring these cells red or violet. Gram positive bacteria stain violet due to the presence of a thick layer of peptidoglycan in their cell walls, which retains the crystal violet these cells are stained with. Gram negative bacteria do not retain this violet stain and are instead colored red by the safranin counterstain.

Importance

Gram staining is a crucial procedure used in medical microbiology for the identification and characterization of bacteria. It is often the first step in the preliminary identification of a bacterial organism and directs the selection of appropriate antibiotics for treatment.

Related Terms

• Bacteria
• Microbiology
• Peptidoglycan
• Antibiotics
• Hans Christian Gram

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Gram staining
• Wikipedia's article - Gram staining

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