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Date May 2013 Marks available 2 Reference code 13M.3.HL.TZ2.8
Level Higher level Paper Paper 3 Time zone Time zone 2
Command term Outline Question number 8 Adapted from N/A

Question

Outline how bacteria can be classified by Gram staining.

Markscheme

a. Gram stain permits classifying bacteria according to structure of their cell walls;
b. Gram-positive bacteria have thick peptidoglycan layer and Gram-negative a thin layer with an outer membrane;
c. giving different pathogenic/resistance properties;
d. Gram-positive bacteria appear purple / Gram-negative pink/reddish;

Examiners report

Most knew about Gram staining, but some confused the characteristics between Gram+ and Gram-.

Syllabus sections

Option B: Biotechnology and bioinformatics » Option B: Biotechnology and bioinformatics (Core topics) » B.1 Microbiology: organisms in industry
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