3-12 Flagella Stain

To see Flagella, what is the max wavelength of the electromagnetic spectrum that has to be used to create the image?

D = Wavelength / NA Objective + NA Condenser

What general conclusions can you draw about cell morphology and possession of flagella

Flagella occur in both gram positive and negative bacteria

Why cant flagella be observed in action?

In order to see flagella under a microscope, they must be stained. The staining process kills that cells.

Flagella motion can be

clockwise and counterclockwise

Amphitrichous

flagella at both poles of the cell

Peritrichous

flagella distributed over the entire cell

Cells swim because of

morphology

A single flagellum is said to be

polar and the cell has a monotrichous arrangement

Bacterial flagella are

too thin to be observed with light microscope and ordinary stains

Lophotrichous

tufts of flagella at the end of the cell