False-colour transmission electron micrograph (TEM) of a male Escherichia coli bacterium (bottom left) conjugating with two females. Sex between bacteria was discovered in 1946, & involves transfer of DNA. Maleness in E. coli is associated with long, hollow surface hairs called F-pili. This male has attached 2 F-pili to each of the females & DNA is transferred between them through their hollow cores. The tiny bodies that cover the F-pili are MS2 bacteriophages, a type of virus that attacks bacteria & binds specifically to F- pili. Magnification: x11,250 at 6x7cm size, x5000 at 35mm size. Rossdale colouring. Original is BW print B230/025. Reference: MICROCOSMOS, figure 5.11, page 94.

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