Peritrichous Memes

The classic microscopy rookie mistake. First panel shows Doofenshmirtz looking at some blurry red rods - basic magnification, nothing special. Second panel: pure panic at the bacterial invasion. Third panel reveals what happens when you actually use immersion oil properly - phages with their distinctive spider-like appearance. Fourth panel? Total scientific euphoria upon discovering it's PERItrichous bacteria (multiple flagella all over the cell surface). The difference between thinking you're doing science and actually following protocol is just a drop of cedar oil away. Every microbiologist's journey from "what's that blob?" to "I can see its flagella!" in four convenient panels.