What is the function of the bacterial cell wall?

The function of the bacterial cell wall is primarily to maintain cell shape and provide protection. The cell wall is composed of peptidoglycan, which is a polymer consisting of sugars and amino acids. This structure is crucial for the integrity of bacterial cells as it helps resist osmotic pressure, preventing lysis (breaking) in hypotonic environments. By providing structural support, the cell wall enables bacteria to maintain their characteristic shapes—such as cocci (spherical), bacilli (rod-shaped), or spirilla (spiral-shaped). Additionally, the cell wall acts as a barrier against certain external threats, including antibiotics and physical stresses, thus playing a critical role in the overall survival of the bacterium.

Other options focus on different cellular functions; for instance, storing genetic material pertains to the role of the nucleoid within the cell, while reproduction is handled by cellular processes involving DNA replication and cell division rather than the cell wall itself. Motility is typically associated with structures like flagella or pili, not the cell wall.