Fraction of a cell's surface that is in direct atomic contact with an adjoining surface (assuming that each surface is perfectly smooth and without projections)

Range <0.1% %
Organism bacteria
Reference Young KD. The selective value of bacterial shape. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev. 2006 Sep70(3):660-703 DOI: 10.1128/MMBR.00001-06 p.671 right column bottom paragraphPubMed ID16959965
Primary Source [335] van Loosdrecht MC, Lyklema J, Norde W, Zehnder AJ. Influence of interfaces on microbial activity. Microbiol Rev. 1990 Mar54(1):75-87.PubMed ID2181260
Comments P.671 right column bottom paragraph: "Cell shape influences attachment because bacteria adhere to solid surfaces by van der Waals and electrostatic forces (refs 269, 336, primary source). The small distances over which these forces operate dictate that only a tiny fraction of a cell's surface (<0.1%) is in direct atomic contact with an adjoining surface (assuming that each surface is perfectly smooth and without projections) (primary source)."
Entered by Uri M
ID 115598