Question

Do Prokaryotes have cilia and flagella?

Answer 1

Hint: Prokaryotes are single celled organisms, which are microscopic in nature. They include bacteria and archaea. They lack distinct membrane nucleus and specialized cell nucleus. Cytoplasmic inclusions, nucleoid, cytoplasm, ribosome, cell membrane and cell wall are present in the prokaryotic cell. Cyanobacteria also come under the category of prokaryotes.

Complete answer:
Flagella is a long, thread-like organelle present in the cell’s surface. Cilia is short, hair like organelle extending from the cell’s surface.
Primary cilia have \[9 + 0\] arrangement of microtubules, whereas motile cilia exhibit \[9 + 2\] arrangement of microtubules. Meanwhile, flagella also have \[9 + 2\] arrangement of microtubules. Both flagella and cilia are not protective structures.
In eukaryotic cells, both flagella and cilia are present. But cilia are absent in prokaryotic cells.
Flagella are present in sperm cells and bacteria. But eukaryotic flagella are different from prokaryotic flagella.
Cilia is present throughout the cell. But flagella are present on two ends of the cell usually. Cilia are hundred in number. But flagella are less than ten in number. Cilia beat in coordination with one another. But, flagella beat independent of others. Cilia helps in locomotion, feeding, circulation and aeration. Flagella helps mainly in locomotion only. Cilia can be found in paramecium. Flagellum is present in Salmonella.
Motile cilia and non-motile cilia are the types of cilia. Bacterial flagella, eukaryotic flagella and archaeal flagella are the types of flagella.

Note:
The length of cilium is \[0.3\] to\[0.5\] micrometer and width of the cilium is \[5 - 10\] micrometer. Flagellin is a protein, which makes flagella. The length of flagellum is \[150\] micrometer and the thickness is \[0.02 - 0.025\] micrometer. Prokaryotes have another structure called pili, which are similar to cilia. But pili are rigid. Pili is used by prokaryotes to attach to surfaces. Hence, there is no need for cilia.