Question

A mutation that causes production of a defective pilus in a bacterium will prevent __________.

Answer 1

Answer:

The correct answer is: Attachment.

Explanation:

• Pilus are thread like structures which are present on the surface of the bacterial cell.
• They are mainly responsible for attaching the bacterial cells to a substrate, for obtaining food or to an eukaryotic cell for the purpose of infection.
• Pilus also mediate the process of conjugation in some bacterial cells.
• Conjugation is a process by which genetic material or plasmids are transferred from one bacteria to another through a channel formed in between the two bacteria by the help of the pilus.
• Pilus also helps the bacteria by preventing them from getting recognised by the immune cells in the host.
• A defective pilus will affect all the above processes, resulting in death of the bacteria.