BACTERIOLOGY Msc. HALAH DAWOOD Second stage – LAB. 2 Classification of Bacteria according to Gram Stain Bacteria fall into a category of life called the Prokaryotes (pro-carry-oats). Prokaryotes' genetic material or DNA, is not enclosed in a cellular compartment called the nucleus. Bacteria and Archaea are the only prokaryotes. All other life forms are Eukaryotes (youcarry-oats), creatures whose cells have nuclei. (Note: viruses are not considered true cells, so they don't fit into either of these categories.) Bacteria are classified in many ways. Most bacteria are classified by their shape, cell wall, movement, eat and breathing. The most useful technique of classification would be the Gram stain. The Gram stain distinguishes between differences in the cell wall composition of bacteria (Gram positive or Gram negative). 1