The Pattern of Growth and Flagellar Development in Motile Gram-positive Cocci

Abstract

By the use of a staining technique which enables the flagella and cell walls to be demonstrated simultaneously, the distribution of flagella on the component cells of motile gram-positive cocci has been examined. By comparison of these preparations with others made by the technique of Pennington (1950), which indicates the physiological age of cells according to the resistance of their basophilic elements to the action of formaldehyde, it is apparent that such multicellular cocci divide in the manner already suggested for rod-shaped bacteria, not by simple fission but by a process analogous to budding, so that different cells in a group are at different physiological ages or stages of development.