peritrichous
Definition
Adjective: 1. (Biology, Microbiology) Describing a microorganism, typically a bacterium, that has flagella (hair-like structures for movement) distributed uniformly over its entire cell surface.
Usage
- This is a highly specialized scientific term used almost exclusively in microbiology and related fields to describe the arrangement of flagella on a bacterial cell.
- It is used attributively (before a noun) to describe the organism or its characteristics.
Examples
- Adjective:
- Peritrichous bacteria, like Escherichia coli, can swim efficiently in liquid environments.
- The organism was identified as a peritrichous bacillus under the microscope.
- Motility in peritrichous species is achieved through the coordinated bundling of their many flagella.
Advanced Usage
- The term is part of a standard classification system for bacterial flagellar arrangement, contrasting with monotrichous (a single flagellum), lophotrichous (a tuft of flagella at one end), and amphitrichous (flagella at both ends).
Variants and Related Words
- Peritrich (noun): An organism that is peritrichous. It can also refer to a specific order of ciliate protozoa, creating a potential for confusion; context is key.
- Peritrichously (adverb): In a peritrichous manner.
- The flagella are arranged peritrichously.
Synonyms
- Multiflagellated (adj.): Having many flagella. (Note: This is a more general term and does not specify the uniform, covering arrangement implied by "peritrichous").
Antonyms
- Atrichous (adj.): Lacking flagella.
- Monotrichous (adj.): Having a single flagellum.
- Lophotrichous (adj.): Having a tuft of flagella at one or both poles.
Adjective
-
covered all over with uniformly distributed flagella
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