Question

The main function of elementary bodies in Mycoplasma/some primitive bacteria is
A)Reproduction
B)Respiration
C)Secretion
D)Food storage

Answer 1

Hint: It is a process by which an organism produces its own offspring that are biologically similar to the organism.it is essential for the continuity of generation and it is basically of two types - asexual and sexual.

Complete answer:
Mycoplasma is also called PPLO like organisms(Pleuro-pneumonia like organisms). Nocard and Roux discovered them from a cow, suffering from pleuro- pneumonia.
-Mycoplasma is the simplest and smallest unicellular organism.
Reproduction in Mycoplasma
Reproduction in Mycoplasma is occurring through binary fission and also from fragmentation.
They also have a special mode of reproduction, a vegetative mode of reproduction which we called elementary bodies.
-Mycoplasma divides its cell into many small cells and each cell contains cytoplasm, DNA, and other cellular material. These small cells are also called Bleb particles.
-We can call these bleb particles elementary bodies that grow in the new individual. So this is a mode of vegetative reproduction that occurs through elementary bodies.

Additional Information: Mycobacteria are nonmotile bacteria. Their most important characteristics are that they lack a cell wall. Normal bacteria have a cell wall of peptidoglycan but these bacteria lack a cell wall, instead, they have an outer three-layered plasma membrane made up of lipoproteins. These bacteria don't have a fixed shape (pleomorphic)
-These bacteria have double-stranded DNA, RNA, proteins, and lipids. These are gram-negative bacteria.
-Their mode of nutrition is heterotrophic, Saprotrophs, and parasite. They are also resistant to antibodies that attack cell walls. e.g Penicillin.

So, the correct answer is,” Reproduction”.

Note: -Budding and binary fission are two modes of reproduction of Mycoplasma. It usually occurs in the case of prokaryotic unicellular organisms and is asexual reproduction. They lack a nucleus. The elementary bodies of Mycoplasma are varying in shape and size.