Differentiation Help

[lamb]

If you're not sure, keep on looking. Usually in between the questionable cocci
you can find definite rods. Don't despair, even experienced labworkers can be
fooled sometimes.
And the buggers are small, that's on purpose. They think that way you can't spot
them.
Loes


Mike wrote:

> I'm a university student in a microbio intro course and we're working with
> unknowns.  Many in the class, including myself, are having a difficult time
> differentiating between rods and cocci on student-prepared Gram stain slides
> at 1000X oil-immersion magnification.  Often they look like rods but also
> dividing cocci.  The little "bugs" are just so small.
>
> Any tips for the beginner?
>
> Thanks in advance for your help!
>
> Mike