Final answer:
The statement is false; Staphylococcus bacteria grow in clusters, not chains. Streptococcus is the genus that typically forms chains of cocci.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that the bacterium Staphylococcus usually grows as a chain of spherical cells is false. Rather than forming chains, Staphylococcus bacteria are known to grow in "grape-like" clusters or bunches. This genus, which includes well-known species like Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis, is characterized by its spherical shape—a form known as coccus—and its tendency to form these clusters. It's another genus, Streptococcus, that is famous for growing in chains of cocci, as seen with Streptococcus pyogenes.