Motility and flagella: Bacteria that lack flagella are generally unable to perform which function?

Introduction / Context:
Flagella are rotary appendages that allow many bacteria to swim through liquid environments. While not all bacteria possess flagella, those that lack them generally cannot perform swimming motility and must rely on other mechanisms (if any) to relocate, such as twitching, gliding, or passive transport by fluid flow.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question targets the functional consequence of having no flagella.
• Other cellular processes like reproduction and growth do not require flagella.
• Adhesion to tissues typically involves adhesins, fimbriae, or extracellular polymers rather than flagella.

Concept / Approach:

Flagella enable active swimming and, in some cases, swarming across semi-solid surfaces. Without flagella, a bacterium loses this type of motility. However, cell division (binary fission) proceeds independently, growth on media is possible if nutrients and conditions are suitable, and adhesion is mediated by specific adhesins or surface polymers unrelated to flagella.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:

Motility tests (e.g., hanging drop, semi-solid agar) readily distinguish flagellated swimmers from non-motile strains. Non-flagellated organisms can still form colonies and reproduce, validating that movement is the specific deficit.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Reproduction: many non-motile bacteria replicate normally by binary fission.

Stick to tissues: often mediated by fimbriae, pili, or extracellular polysaccharides.

Grow on nutrient agar: non-motile bacteria commonly grow as colonies in vitro.

Common Pitfalls:

Equating motility with viability; a bacterium can be entirely viable yet non-motile. Also, confusing flagella (motility) with fimbriae (adhesion) is a typical early error.

Final Answer:

Move