1. The Gram stain is typically the first test performed in a microbiology laboratory in the process of identifying an unknown. Why? Give two examples of instances when a Gram stain would NOT be a useful first step.
2. What are biochemical tests and why are they performed?
3. Give two examples of biochemical tests and identify why the tests are used.
4. Imagine that you are working in a microbiology lab and you are given a sample of bacteria on an agar plate. You are told that it is eitherStaphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus pyogenes. How would you determine which one the sample contains? Are there any tests you could do to differentiate them?
5. Why must these steps be followed? Wouldn't it be easier to just observe the organism under a microscope and make an Identification based on observation?