Gram staining procedure of bacteria is based upon the properties of

Options

A. Cell membrane
B. Cell wall
C. Capsule
D. DNA

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding Gram Staining**:
- Gram staining is a laboratory technique used to differentiate bacterial species into two groups based on the structural differences in their cell walls.

2. **Identifying the Key Component**:
- The primary focus of the Gram staining procedure is the bacterial cell wall. The composition and structure of the cell wall determine how bacteria respond to the staining process.

3. **The Role of Crystal Violet Dye**:
- During the Gram staining procedure, the bacteria are first treated with crystal violet dye. This dye is retained by certain bacteria due to their cell wall structure.

4. **Differentiation Between Gram Positive and Gram Negative**:
- Gram-positive bacteria have a thick peptidoglycan layer in their cell wall, which retains the crystal violet dye even after a decolorization step.
- In contrast, Gram-negative bacteria have a thinner peptidoglycan layer and an outer membrane, which allows the dye to be washed out during the decolorization step, leading to a different color when a counterstain is applied.

5. **Conclusion**:
- Since the Gram staining procedure is fundamentally based on the properties of the bacterial cell wall, the correct answer to the question is option B: Cell wall.

**Final Answer**: B. Cell wall

---