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What is the arrangement of microtubules characteristic of all cellular cilia and flagella?
publish date: 2026/06/15 21:36:51.665996 UTC
volume_mute
Cilia and flagella share a universal internal structure of microtubules, described by a specific numerical arrangement.
What is this arrangement called?
Correct Answer
9 + 2
Explanation
All cellular cilia and flagella (except those of bacteria and blue-green algae) share the 9 + 2 arrangement of microtubules - nine pairs of microtubules arranged in a ring around a central pair of two microtubules. This arrangement drives the whipping or rotary motion of these structures.
Reference
Biology: A Self-Teaching Guide