False colour transmission electron micrograph of a coccoid bacterium Staphylococcus epidermidis in the initial stages of binary fission. The cell appears in crosssection, with the outer external covering coloured blue. The cell wall is the fine yellow line, which encloses the cell contents. The wall is indented at top & bottom & continues to do so until the cell is divided into two equal daughter cells. In the center of the cell, itself showing signs of division, is the genetic material or DNA coloured blue & yellow. The surrounding cytoplasm, mostly ribosomes, is coloured green. Generally a nonpathogenic bacterium, it may cause acne. Magnification: x19,000 at 35mm size. Microcosmos P.95 fig.5.13