What are the thin filamentous extensions that the motile bacterial cells have from their cell wall called?

Question

Question

This question was previously asked in

SSC CPO 2024 Official Paper-I (Held On: 27 Jun, 2024 Shift 1)

Answer 1

The correct answer is Flagella

Key Points

The thin filamentous extensions that motile bacterial cells have from their cell wall are called Flagella.
Flagella are lash-like appendages that protrude from the cell body of certain prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, providing the means for locomotion.
They are essential for the motility of bacteria, allowing them to move toward favorable environments or away from harmful ones.
Flagella are composed of the protein flagellin and are powered by a rotary engine at the base of the flagellum.
They are different from other cell appendages like pili and fimbriae, which are primarily involved in attachment rather than movement.

Additional Information

Pili are hair-like structures on the surface of bacterial cells that are involved in attachment to surfaces and in the exchange of genetic material during conjugation.
Fimbriae are similar to pili but are usually shorter and more numerous, primarily aiding in the attachment to surfaces and to other cells.
Lamellae are thin layers, plates, or disks in various biological contexts but are not related to bacterial motility.