Bacteria that lack fimbriae would be least able to do which of the following?
ASwim through bodily fluids
BSynthesize their own proteins
CAdhere to cell surfaces
DDivide into daughter cells
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: C. Adhere to cell surfaces
1. Fimbriae are surface structures used by bacteria to attach to a host cell.
2. Remove the fimbriae and the ability to adhere to a cell surface is what disappears.
3. Swimming depends on flagella, which are a separate structure, so it is unaffected.
4. Protein synthesis depends on ribosomes and division on the cell's own machinery, neither of which involves fimbriae.
5. The lost ability is adherence to cell surfaces.
6. Flagella, pili and fimbriae are three separate appendages, so losing one leaves the others working.
_Source: OpenStax Biology (1st ed., CC BY 4.0), Ch 4 "Cell Structure", section 4.2 Prokaryotic Cells_
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