Whip-like tails found in one-celled organisms that aid in movement are called what?

Whip-like tails found in one-celled organisms that aid in movement are called what?

• A. Flagella
• B. Cilia
• C. Pili
• D. Ribosomes

Answer: (A)

Whip-like tails that propel single-celled organisms are called flagella. They move the cell by rotating or undulating, acting like tiny propellers to push through the surrounding fluid. This is different from cilia, which are shorter, numerous projections that beat in a coordinated way to move the cell or the surrounding fluid. Pili are hair-like structures used for attachment or DNA transfer, not movement, and ribosomes are the protein-synthesizing machines inside the cell. So the characteristic whip-like structure that drives movement is the flagellum.

Whip-like tails that propel single-celled organisms are called flagella. They move the cell by rotating or undulating, acting like tiny propellers to push through the surrounding fluid. This is different from cilia, which are shorter, numerous projections that beat in a coordinated way to move the cell or the surrounding fluid. Pili are hair-like structures used for attachment or DNA transfer, not movement, and ribosomes are the protein-synthesizing machines inside the cell. So the characteristic whip-like structure that drives movement is the flagellum.