Efficiency of flagella in typical cell

Range ~1 %
Organism bacteria
Reference Fenchel T, Thar R. "Candidatus Ovobacter propellens": a large conspicuous prokaryote with an unusual motility behaviour. FEMS Microbiol Ecol. 2004 May 1 48(2):231-8. doi: 10.1016/j.femsec.2004.01.013. p.237 right column 2nd paragraphPubMed ID19712406
Primary Source Purcell, E.M. (1997) The efficiency of propulsion by a rotating flagella. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 94, 11307– 11311.PubMed ID9326605
Comments "In ordinary bacterial flagella the efficiency is very low – only about 1% of the mechanical energy is converted to translation of the cells because the flagella slip as they translate through the water [primary source]."
Entered by Uri M
ID 111234