by Ramy Karam Aziz
We received this email from our friend in Cairo and enjoyed the exam question so much that we thought why not share it with our readers. Indeed, why not? Here you are...
A bacterial cell, schematically. CC-BY-4.0 CNX OpenStax
Hi friends,
every now and then I like to share one of the good student answers. In the last Micro101 exam, I gave them this question:
If you were a bacterium and you have the choice of only one:
a ) pilus, b ) capsule, c ) flagellum.
Which you would choose, and why?
Of course all the answers were OK, and each chose whether to be defensive, playful, or "sensual". Many said they want a pilus to be able to save their friends by passing resistance genes. One said (s)he likes to have company/sex.
However, the funniest of all was by 2 students who said:
I'd of course choose a pilus. This way I can have conjugation and also obtain genes to make a capsule and a flagellum.
Well, although it's scientifically bogus, I really like their answer : )
Cheers, I hope to see you at ASM – fingers crossed.
Ramy Karam Aziz with students. Source
Ramy Karam Aziz is professor and chair of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Egypt.
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