What is a flagellum?
Question:
What is a flagellum?
Flagellum:
Flagella can be found in the three domains of organisms: bacteria, archaea, and eukaryota. An example of an eukaryotic cell with flagellum can be found the mammalian reproductive cells, the sperm. Flagella are also common in some bacterias that can one or multiple flagella.
Answer and Explanation: 1
A flagellum is a thin and long structure whose main function is to allow the cell or organism to move. Therefore, the flagellum is responsible for the locomotion of the cell or organism. The composition of the flagellum varies in eukaryotes and bacteria. For example, in eukaryotes is made of microfilaments of a protein called tubulin, while in bacteria the protein is named flagellin. Also, the flagellum in eukaryotes uses ATP to obtain the energy required for movement, while in prokaryotes it can use, for instance, a difference in ionic gradient.
Learn more about this topic:
from
Chapter 20 / Lesson 19Learn what the function of flagella in bacteria is by understanding what flagella is, the basic structure of flagella, and how the flagella actually work.