No, viruses do not have flagella.
Understanding Flagella and Viruses
Flagella are whip-like appendages found in some bacteria and other single-celled organisms. They are used for movement. In contrast, viruses are acellular; they lack the cellular structures found in bacteria, archaea, and eukaryotes. Because viruses are not cells, they lack the machinery needed to produce flagella, or any other cellular structures for that matter. They rely entirely on infecting host cells to replicate.
Several sources confirm this:
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Direct statements: Multiple sources explicitly state that viruses lack flagella. This is explicitly stated in the provided text: "Viruses lack flagella. Flagella are minute hair-like features that help a cell move."
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Comparison to Bacteria: The provided text highlights that some bacteria possess flagella for locomotion, contrasting this with the acellular nature of viruses. This comparison is evident in various sources, highlighting the presence of flagella in bacteria but their absence in viruses.
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Viral Replication: Viruses reproduce by injecting their genetic material into a host cell, hijacking the cell's machinery to create more viruses. This process doesn't involve motility structures like flagella.
While some sources mention pili (which are different from flagella) in the context of viral attachment to host cells, this does not imply the presence of flagella in viruses themselves. The function of pili in bacteria is distinct from that of flagella.
