Bacteria can be classified into several types depending on their division. One of them is Gram positive bacteria and Gram negative bacteria.
Gram positive Vs Gram negative bacteria are distinguished based on the structure of their cell walls. This division uses the Gram staining technique. The technique was invented by a Danish scientist named Hans Christian Gram.
This coloring technique was developed in 1884 to distinguish between Pneunomococcus bacteria and Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteria. Bacteria that have been fixated in the preparing glass are stain with a solution of dye.
The dye solution used is a violet crystal dye, iodine solution, alco**hol solution (fire material), and a counter dye in the form of water, fuchsin, safranin.
Gram positive bacteria will retain violet crystal dyes. These bacteria will appear purple after washing with alco**hol.
Unlike gram negative bacteria, it will lose violet crystal dye and will appear red when given a counter color.
Gram Positive Vs Gram Negative Bacteria
Bacteria are typical prokaryotic cells, unicellular and do not contain membrane-limited structures within their cytoplasm.
Gram negative bacteria are bacteria that do not maintain violet crystal color substances during the Gram staining process so that they will be red when observed with a microscope. While the gram positive bacteria will be purple. Gram-positive bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus have only a single plasma membrane surrounded by a thick cell wall in the form of peptidoglycan.
About 90% of the cell wall is composed of peptidoglycan while the rest is in the form of another molecule called teichoic acid. On the other hand, gram-negative bacteria have a dual membrane system in which the plasma membrane is enveloped by a permeable outer membrane. These bacteria have a thick cell wall in the form of peptidoglycans, which are located between the inner and outer membranes.
For those of you who are still confused by the difference between gram positive Vs gram negative bacteria. Here we will present some differences between the two groups of bacteria. The differences are as follows:
- In gram-positive bacteria the cell wall that uses a peptidoglycan layer of lipid levels is between 20 to 80 mm thick or about 1-4%. While in gram negative bacteria about 11 to 12%.
- In gram positive bacteria resistance to alkali with 1% KOH is insoluble, while in gram negative bacteria the resistance dissolves.
- Sensitivity to iodine in their gram-positive bacteria are more sensitive, whereas in gram negative bacteria they are less sensitive.
- For toxins formed by gram-positive bacteria are exotoxins, while in gram negative bacteria i.e. Endotoxins.
- In gram-positive bacteria the cell has a round shape, there is a shape like a rod and also filament. As for gram negative bacteria the cells are also round in shape, and there are also oval ones even some that are like straight rods.
- Gram-positive bacteria reproduce by means of binary fission, whereas in negative bacteria also use binary fission but also sometimes use budding.
- A metabolism that were gram positive bacteria is chemoorganoheterotrophs, while in gram negative bacteria the metabolism is phototrophy.
- In gram positive bacteria resistance to tellurite is more resistant, while in gram negative bacteria it is more sensitive.
- Gram positive bacteria have acid-resistant properties while in gram negative bacteria no one has acid resistance.
- Gram-positive bacteria are more sensitive to penicillin sensitivity, whereas in gram negative bacteria they are less sensitive.
- Gram-positive bacteria are not sensitive to streptomycin sensitivity, whereas in gram negative bacteria they are more sensitive.
- Motility in gram-positive bacteria are mostly non motile, if the flagella type motile is petritrichous. While motility in gram-negative bacteria, it can be motile and also non-motile. The flagella form of these bacteria varies greatly.
- The limbs that gram positive bacteria have usually they have no apandase. While in gram negative bacteria they have pili, fimbriae and also stalks.
- In gram positive bacteria there are several groups that can form an endospore. While in gram negative bacteria they cannot form their endospores.
- Gram-positive bacteria in their alkaline color inhibition are more inhibited. While in gram negative bacteria in color inhibition is usually less inhibited.
- The need for nutrients for gram-positive bacteria is more complex. While in gram negative bacteria the need for nutrients is simpler.
- If in gram positive bacteria the resistance of physical treatment is more resistant. While in gram negative bacteria the resistance of physical treatment is less restrained.
Such is the difference between gram positive Vs gram negative bacteria that we can explain. Hopefully a glimpse of the above explanation can help to further add insight and knowledge for those of you in need. Good luck and good reading.
