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Name: Tyler
Status: student
Age: 15
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: 11/24/2003
Question:
Were is the location of a flagella in a cell?

Replies:
A flagellum (singular) is like a tail: it is a cell-organelle that is attached in the cell membrane, facing outwards. In most flagellate bacteria and single-cellular eukaryotes, one or more flagella are visible by microscopy as tail-like structures. In some bacteria (particular spirochetes) flagella lay as a network between the inner and outer membrane, so that they are not visible from the outside. They presumably keep the bacteria in their typical spiral shape. In other bacteria a bunch of flagella are present at the tip of the cell, like a witch broom. In others, only a single flagellum is present. But always one end of the flagellum is attached to the membrane, through a motor which makes it rotate, and the other end is free.

Trudy Wassenaar

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