Question

What are the three basic shapes of bacteria?

• A. Round, rod like and tapered
• B. Round, flattened and spiral
• C. Spiral, flattened and rod like
• D. Round, rod like and spiral

Answer 1

The correct option is D

Round, rod like and spiral

The three basic shapes of bacteria are Cocci (round), Bacilli (rod), and Spirilla (spiral). When viewed under light microscope, most bacteria appear in variations of three major shapes: the rod (bacillus), the sphere (coccus) and the spiral type (spirillum). In fact, structure of bacteria has two aspects, arrangement and shape. So far as the arrangement is concerned, it may paired (diplo), grape-like clusters (staphylo) or chains (strepto). In shape they may principally be rods (bacilli), spheres (cocci), and spirals (spirillum).