Final answer:
Bacteria lacking fimbriae are less likely to adhere to surfaces as fimbriae enable attachment to surfaces and other cells, essential for pathogenic bacteria's colonization and biofilm formation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Fimbriae are short bristle-like protein projections found on the surfaces of some bacteria. Their primary function is to enable the bacteria to adhere to surfaces and other cells. This trait is particularly important for pathogenic bacteria for colonization and virulence, as well as biofilm formation, which are structured communities of bacterial cells adherent to a surface and encased in a self-produced polymeric matrix.
Therefore, when bacteria lack fimbriae, they are less likely to adhere to surfaces. This ability is not associated with movement, replication, or the exchange of genetic material, which are facilitated by other structures such as flagella (for movement) and pili (used in the transfer of genetic material between cells).