Microbiology

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You gram stained 2 bacteria with flagella.why didn't you see the flagella

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

Homework?

Why don't you tell us your thoughts first?

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Specializes in Med-Tele; ED; ICU.

Because I didn't have my glasses on.

Because I didn't focus the microscope.

Because my technique sucked.

Because I looked in the wrong place.

Because maybe there's something about the Gram stain which prevents it from staining the flagella... which are made out of what again? And how exactly do G+ and G- organisms differ? And what exactly gets stained in a G+ organism?

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Real answer is because flagella are too thin to be seen with conventional staining techniques under a light microscope. Not that anyone cares any more.

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