Skip to main content
Ch. 11 - Characterizing and Classifying Prokaryotes
Bauman - Microbiology with Diseases by Taxonomy 6th Edition
Bauman6th EditionMicrobiology with Diseases by TaxonomyISBN: 9780134832302Not the one you use?Change textbook
All textbooksBauman 6th EditionCh. 11 - Characterizing and Classifying ProkaryotesProblem 8
Chapter 11, Problem 8

Flexible spiral-shaped prokaryotes are __________ .


a. spirilla
b. spirochetes
c. vibrios
d. rickettsias

Verified step by step guidance
1
Step 1: Understand the morphology terms for prokaryotes. Prokaryotes can have different shapes such as cocci (spherical), bacilli (rod-shaped), spirilla (rigid spiral-shaped), spirochetes (flexible spiral-shaped), and vibrios (comma-shaped).
Step 2: Identify the key descriptor in the question: 'flexible spiral-shaped'. This means the prokaryote has a spiral shape but is not rigid, allowing it to bend or flex.
Step 3: Recall that 'spirilla' are spiral-shaped bacteria but are typically rigid and have external flagella.
Step 4: Recognize that 'spirochetes' are known for their flexible spiral shape and unique internal flagella called axial filaments, which allow them to move in a corkscrew motion.
Step 5: Conclude that the correct term for flexible spiral-shaped prokaryotes is 'spirochetes', which corresponds to option b.

Verified video answer for a similar problem:

This video solution was recommended by our tutors as helpful for the problem above.
Video duration:
1m
Was this helpful?

Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Prokaryotic Cell Shapes

Prokaryotes exhibit various shapes including cocci (spherical), bacilli (rod-shaped), and spirilla (rigid spiral-shaped). Understanding these shapes helps in identifying and classifying bacteria based on their morphology.
Recommended video:
Guided course
05:54
Prokaryotic & Eukaryotic Cells

Spirochetes

Spirochetes are a group of flexible, spiral-shaped bacteria characterized by their unique axial filaments that enable corkscrew-like movement. This flexibility distinguishes them from rigid spirilla and is important in their identification.
Recommended video:
Guided course
02:22
Spiral-shaped Bacterial Cells

Distinction Between Spirilla and Spirochetes

While both spirilla and spirochetes are spiral-shaped, spirilla are rigid and move using external flagella, whereas spirochetes are flexible and move via internal axial filaments. This difference is key to correctly classifying spiral bacteria.
Recommended video:
Guided course
02:22
Spiral-shaped Bacterial Cells
Related Practice
Textbook Question

For each of the following statements that is true, write “true” in the blank. For each statement that is false, write the word(s) that should be substituted for the underlined word(s) to make the statement correct.

__________ Pigments located in thylakoids in phototrophic bacteria trap light energy for metabolic processes.

793
views
Textbook Question

For each of the following statements that is true, write “true” in the blank. For each statement that is false, write the word(s) that should be substituted for the underlined word(s) to make the statement correct.

__________ A giant bacterium that is large enough to be seen without a microscope is Selenomonas.

870
views
Textbook Question

How is Agrobacterium used in recombinant DNA technology?

1748
views
Textbook Question

Name and describe six distinct classes of phylum Proteobacteria.

2085
views
Textbook Question

For each of the following statements that is true, write “true” in the blank. For each statement that is false, write the word(s) that should be substituted for the underlined word(s) to make the statement correct.

__________ Most cyanobacteria form heterocysts in which nitrogen fixation occurs.

815
views
Textbook Question

Which genus is the most common anaerobic human pathogen?

a. Bacteroides

b. Spirochetes

c. Chlamydia

d. Methanopyrus

923
views