Vital Staining of DNA and RNA in Paramecium

Description
DNA and RNA are 2 types of nucleic acids, which have different staining properties. DNA is acidic and stains acidic dyes, while RNA with proteins stains basic dyes. The 2 stains used are methyl green and pyronine. DNA stains blue or bluish-green with methyl green and RNA stains pink with pyronine dyes. DNA is present in the nucleus and stains blue or bluish-green, while RNA is present in the cytoplasm and stains pink.

Materials
  • Cultured paramecia
  • Cavity slides
  • Plain slides
  • Cover slips
  • Methyl green and pyronine stains 0.5%
Procedure
  1. Pipette out a few paramecia onto a cavity slide.
  2. Blot out excess water using filter paper.
  3. Put 2 or 3 drops of methyl green pyronine stain and keep it for 5–10 minutes.
  4. Transfer the paramecia onto a clean slide. Put them under a cover slip in an aqueous medium.
  5. Observe under the microscope.
Observation
DNA (nucleus) stained blue and RNA (cytoplasm) stained pink.

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