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pilus
Definitions
[], (Noun)
Definitions:
- A proteinaceous filamentous structure projecting from the surface of a bacterium or other microorganism; specifically (more fully "sex pilus") any of those present singly or in small numbers on the surface of Gram-negative bacteria, which are encoded by conjugative plasmids and play a role in conjugation.
Phrases:
Origin
:
mid 18th century (in an earlier sense). From scientific Latin pilus from classical Latin pilus hair
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definition by Oxford Dictionaries