Question

What Is The Main Difference Between Flagella And Pili?

Answer 1

The main difference between flagella and cilia lies in the function they perform.

1. Pili is used for prokaryotic attachment to surfaces and is an appendage while flagella assists the prokaryote in movement.
2. Flagella are not straight but helical while Pili are straight and non-helical.
3. Flagella are whip-like and long while pili are hair-like and short.
4. Also, flagella are seen in gram negative and gram positive bacteria and originate from the cell wall, pili are seen in gram negative bacteria and originate from the cytoplasmic membrane.