Scientists find bacterial filament can conduct electricity

Q.  Hair like filaments on some bacteria have what property, according to scientists?
- Published on 13 Jun 16

a. Electrical Transmission
b. Electrical Conductivity
c. Light Conductivity
d. Sound Conductivity

ANSWER: Electrical Conductivity
 
Scientists have found that the hair-like nanoscale filaments on some bacteria have electrical conductivity comparable to that of copper, an advance that may lead to low-cost, non-toxic, biological components for lightweight electronics.
  • Although proteins are usually electrically insulating, hair-like nanoscale filaments (called pili) on the surface of Geobacter bacteria exhibit metallic-like conductivity.
  • Researchers discovered that electronic arrangement and the small molecular separation distances (about 0.3 nanometres) give the pili an electrical conductivity comparable to that of copper.

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