Question

Which stain is commonly used in study of cell division?

• A. Feulgen reaction
• B. Acetocarmine
• C. Eosine
• D. Saffranine

Answer 1

The correct option is B Acetocarmine

Acetocarmine is a DNA specific stain like feulgen stain, so the super coiled chromosomes during different stages of mitosis present in the onion root tip cells can be visualized perfectly by treating with this stain. Acetocarmine is a saturated solution of carmine in 45% acetic acid used especially for the rapid staining of fresh unfixed chromosomes. It is used to study the stages of cell division. Thus, option B is correct. Feulgen reaction is used to stain DNA. Saffranine is used to stain bacterial cells. Eosin is a fluorescent acidic / negative compound that binds to and forms salts with basic, or eosinophilic, compounds containing positive charges such as proteins that are basic / positive due to the presence of amino acid residues such as arginine and lysine and stains them dark red or pink as a result of the actions of bromine on fluorescein. In addition to staining proteins in the cytoplasm, it can be used to stain collagen and muscle fibres for examination under the microscope.