Avatar for Sourav Pan

Sourav Pan

Founder of Biology Notes Online, Biology & Microbiology Educator, M.Sc. in Microbiology
Expertise
Microbiology, Immunology, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Genetics, Biotechnology, Biochemistry, Botany, Zoology
Education
University of Calcutta
Profile Last Updated: August 10, 2026

Sourav Pan is the founder and sole author of Biology Notes Online. He holds a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree and an M.Sc. in Microbiology from the University of Calcutta. He creates educational resources covering microbiology, immunology, biotechnology, genetics, cell biology, botany, zoology, and other life-science subjects.

His goal is to make complex biological concepts easier to understand through well-structured, student-friendly articles based on academic textbooks, peer-reviewed research, and authoritative scientific sources. In addition to writing new content, he regularly reviews and updates articles to improve their accuracy, clarity, and educational value.

Types of Stains used in Microbiology

Types of Stains used in Microbiology

Different stains react or concentrate on different areas of a tissue or cell These properties can be utilized to highlight certain areas or regions. A few of the most well-known biological staining methods can be found below. If not otherwise indicated All of these dyes can be used on tissues and cells that are fixed as well as essential dyes (suitable for use in live organisms) are indicated.

Production Media – Types, Characteristics, Examples, Uses

Production Media - Definition, Characteristics, Examples, Uses

What is Production Media? Production media is the nutrient-rich medium used to support the large-scale growth of microorganisms or cell cultures for the purpose of producing useful biological substances. It is designed in such a way that optimum growth conditions is maintained, and the metabolic activities of the organisms is supported for yielding products like … Read more

Northern Blotting – Steps, Principle, Application, Result

Northern Blot Protocol, Principle, Application, Result

Northern blotting or Northern hybridization is a widely used technique in molecular biology to determine the molecular weight of mRNA and to measure relative amounts of mRNA present in different samples and for identifying alternatively spliced transcripts and multigene family members.

Study of larval forms In Protochordates

Study of larval forms In Protochordates

Protochordate larvae is the juvenile stage found in lower chordates, and it is seen in members of Urochordata and Cephalochordata. It is the stage where the animal shows the typical chordate features very clearly. It is the notochord, dorsal hollow nerve cord, pharyngeal slits, and the post-anal tail that appear in this larval period. It … Read more

Cell Membrane Staining – Principle, Procedure, Result, Uses

Cell Membrane Staining

Cell membrane staining is the process in which the plasma membrane of a cell is visualized with the help of dyes or fluorescent probes. It is the thin outer covering of the cell, and it is normally transparent, so it cannot be seen clearly under a simple light microscope. It is the process where special … Read more

Nuclear Staining- Principle, Procedure, Uses

Nuclear Staining- Principle, Procedure, Uses

Nuclear staining is the process in which the nucleus of a cell is given artificial colour so that it becomes visible under microscope. It is the main method used in histology and cytology because the nucleus is naturally transparent and it needs specific dyes for proper contrast. The nucleus contains DNA and chromatin materials which … Read more

Cell Wall Staining by Dayr’s Method – Principle, Procedure, Uses

Procedure of Cell Wall Staining

The composition of cell wall varies from species to species, it has been reported that the main constituents of cell wall is chitin, hemicellulose, and cellulose. In addition, prokaryotic cell wall contains peptidoglycan (also known as murein and mucopeptide). Peptidoglycan is mainly composed of sugar, amino acids (peptide; amino acids + glycan; sugar).

Cell Viability test using Propidium Iodide (PI) – Principle, Procedure, uses

Procedure of Viability test by propidium iodide

Cell viability analysis using Propidium Iodide is a simple method in which the dye is used to distinguish between living and dead cells. It is the process where Propidium Iodide (PI) is added to a cell suspension and the stained cells is then examined usually by flow cytometer. PI is a red-fluorescent dye that binds … Read more