Week 2: Definitions

Chapter 4: Microscopy, Staining, and Classification

Differential stains: In microscopy, a stain using more than one dye so that different structures can be distinguished. The Gram stain is the most commonly used.

Here are three examples of differential stains that we discussed in class this week:

1) Gram stain: Technique for staining microbial samples by applying a series of dyes that leave some microbes purple and others pink. Developed by Christian Gram in 1884.

2) Acid-fast stain: In microscopy, a differential stain used to penetrate waxy cell walls.

3) Endospore stain: Differential stain which stains endospore or spore bacteria (Clostridium and   Bacillis). 

 

Week 1: Reflections

I'm excited for this new semester, especially taking Microbiology. This past week in class, we learned about different people (scientists, nurses, etc.) and how they contributed to microbiology. The person that I focused on was George M. Sternberg. He was a U.S. Army General Surgeon who traveled with the U.S. army for many wars, including the Civil War. After being sick with typhoid and yellow fever, he took further interest and studied these diseases. He, along with Walter Reed, were able to find a way to stop the spread of typhoid fever and contain it. He was known as the first American Microbiologist.

I'm looking forward to this class and all the useful information that I can use later in the future.