Round 2: Tossup 12

These structures’ homology with the type 3 secretion system in some bacteria contradicts claims by proponents of creationism that these structures are “irreducibly complex.” These structures’ “endo-” variety are unique to spirochetes (“SPY-roh-keets”) and are the cause of those organisms’ eccentric corkscrew shapes. (-5[1])In bacteria, these structures use either a sodium or proton gradient (-5[1])to drive the “Mot” (*) (“moat”) rotor complex. These structures’ clockwise and counterclockwise rotation causes “run-and-tumble” movement in bacteria during chemotaxis (“kee-mo-TAX-is”). For 10 points, (10[1])name these whiplike (10[1])organelles present in most motile cells, which are longer than cilia ■END■ (10[2])

Back to tossups

Buzzes

Summary