The document discusses Gram staining techniques used to differentiate between Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Gram-positive bacteria have thicker cell walls consisting of peptidoglycan and teichoic acids, which causes them to retain the primary dye color. Gram-negative bacteria have thinner cell walls with an outer membrane, allowing the dye to be washed out by alcohol, leaving them colorless after counterstaining. The key difference observed during Gram staining is whether the bacteria retain the crystal violet dye after decolorization and counterstaining.