Question

What is the difference between cilia and flagella? What are they used for?

Answer 1

Differences between Cilia and flagella

1. Cilia are short, hair like appendages extending from the surface of a living cell.

Flagella are long, threadlike appendages on the surface of a living cell.

2.From Latin word for “eyelash”.

From Latin word for “whip”.

3.Cilia is found in Eukaryotic cells

Flagella is found in both Eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells

4.Cilia have Short and hair like organelle

Flagella have Long wipe like organelle

5.Cilia are numerous

Flagella are less in number

Second part of the question

Flagella are used for mobility in bacteria as well as gametes of eukaryotes. Both cilia and flagella serve locomotion functions, but in different manners. Both rely on dynein, which is a motor protein, and microtubules to work.