If you perform a Gram Stain on human cells, what would happen?

Answer by  Tiramysu (117)

Human cells do not have a cell wall, so they would not be affected by the Gram stain. The crystal violet would wash out.

Answer by  Anonymous

The primary stain, that is the crystal violet, would not be taken up by human cells, as they lack peptidoglycan. However, the counter stain, safranin, would be taken up by human cells because safranin stains the nucleus, which all eukaryotes have.

Answer by  Derbyboo (442)

You would be able to see the cells most likely but they would not tell you anything as gram staining is done to detect leukocyte cells which are identifiers of inflammatory response common to infection.

Answer by  Anonymous

It would all depend on strength of the Yen...If it was roughly a nickle(.05 cents), then it would be pink. If less than a nickle, then obviously it would be purple...Its all about the Peptidoglycan!

Answer by  Nate24 (51)

Nothing. The gram stain is a test for a protein coating called peptidoglycan. Peptidoglycan forms a net around cells that retain the gram stain.

Answer by  freedom1814 (22)

Cells would stain negative, Human cells do not have peptidoglycan in their cell walls, therefore the stain would have nothing to bind to.

Answer by  Kannaki (63)

It will not stain, because the CVI complex taken up by the thick carbohydrate cell walls of bacteria. Human cells do not have carbohydrates. We have a lipid bi layer.