What is the definition of motility in the context of bacteria?

In the context of bacteria, motility specifically refers to the ability of bacteria to move independently and actively. This movement can occur through various mechanisms, such as flagella, pili, or other appendages that enable bacteria to navigate their environment. This characteristic is crucial for bacteria as it allows them to seek out nutrients, evade predators, and colonize new environments, which are essential for their survival and growth.

Understanding this definition is important because motility plays a significant role in a bacterium's overall behavior and ecological interactions. In contrast, the other options focus on different aspects of bacterial characteristics that do not pertain to self-movement. For example, rapid reproduction deals with a bacterium's ability to proliferate, antibiotic resistance pertains to how bacteria withstand antibiotic treatments, and nutrient absorption relates to how bacteria take in necessary substances for their metabolic processes. Each of these features is significant in its own right but does not define motility.