Given below are two statements: one is labelled as Assertion A and the other is labelled as Reason R Assertion A: Mycoplasma is a bacteria without…
Given below are two statements: one is labelled as Assertion A and the other is labelled as Reason RAssertion A: Mycoplasma is a bacteria without cell wall, and it stains negative in Gram staining.Reason R: Only bacteria that have a cell wall would stain positive in Gram staining.In the light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Select an option to attempt
Correct Answer: Option C
Explanation
Mycoplasma, Gram staining, and cell wall:Assertion A: 'Mycoplasma is a bacterium without a cell wall, and stains negative in Gram staining.' — TRUE• Mycoplasma spp. naturally lack a cell wall (no peptidoglycan).• Without a cell wall to retain the crystal violet-iodine complex, they appear Gram-negative.Reason R: 'Only bacteria that have a cell wall would stain positive in Gram staining.' — PARTIALLY TRUE but MISLEADING• This is not a complete or correct explanation. Gram-NEGATIVE bacteria HAVE cell walls (with thin peptidoglycan and an outer membrane) but still stain Gram-NEGATIVE (because the outer membrane prevents retention of crystal violet).• So the mere presence of a cell wall does not guarantee Gram-positive staining.• R is not the correct explanation for A because Gram-negative wall bacteria also have cell walls.Answer: A is true but R is not the correct explanation of A (Option 2).