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flagellum |
Also found in: Dictionary/thesaurus, Medical, Wikipedia, Hutchinson | 0.12 sec. |
flagellumHairlike structure that acts mainly as an organelle of movement in the cells of many living organisms. Characteristic of the protozoan group Mastigophora, flagella also occur on the sex cells of algae, fungi (see fungus), mosses, and slime molds. Flagellar motion causes water currents necessary for respiration and circulation in sponges and cnidarians. Most motile bacteria move by means of flagella. The structures and patterns of movement of flagella in prokaryotes differ from those in eukaryotes. See also cilium. flagellum 1. Biology a long whiplike outgrowth from a cell that acts as an organ of locomotion: occurs in some protozoans, gametes, spores, etc. 2. Botany a long thin supple shoot or runner 3. Zoology the terminal whiplike part of an arthropod's appendage, esp of the antenna of many insects How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content. |
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Studies on the attachment of Leishmania flagella to sand fly midgut epithelium. So follow that ancestral line down, furry paw to scaly foot, amphibious foot to fin to tail to pseudopodia, flagella, and cilia. When the researchers shined a low-intensity visible light from the end of the track opposite the algae, the organisms swam toward the light, each cell beating its two flagella breaststroke-style. |
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