1.2 Cell Structure Flashcards
What organelle (main) do prokaryotes lack?
Prokaryotes are organisms whose cells lack a nucleus
What 2 domains are prokaryotes divided into?
Eubacteria and Archaebacteria (bacteria and archae)
Where are archaebacteria found?
extreme environments [ high temperatures, salt concentrations or pH] ( = extremophiles)
What are eubacteria?
traditional bacteria including most known pathogenic forms (e.g. E. coli, S. aureus, etc.)
What different organelles do prokaryotes have (from eukaryotes)?
- nucleoid
- plasmids
- slime capsule
- flagella
- pilli
What is a nucleoid?
region of the cytoplasm where the DNA is located (DNA strand is circular and called a genophore)
What are plasmids?
autonomous circular DNA molecules that may be transferred between bacteria (horizontal gene transfer)
What size is a prokaryote ribosome?
70S
How does the cell wall in a prokaryote differ from a eukaryote?
rigid outer covering made of peptidoglycan
What is a slime capsule?
a thick polysaccharide layer
What is the function of a slime capsule?
used for protection against dessication (drying out) and phagocytosis
What is a flagella?
Long, slender projections containing a motor protein that enables movement
What are pili?
Hair-like extensions
What are the function of pili?
enable adherence to surfaces (attachment pili) or mediate bacterial conjugation (sex pili)
How do prokaryotic cells reproduce?
Binary fission
What are the 3 steps of binary fission?
- The circular DNA is copied in response to a replication signal
- The two DNA loops attach to the membrane
- The membrane elongates and pinches off (cytokinesis), forming two cells
What do eukaryote cells have that prokaryotes don’t?
a nucleus
compartmentalised by membrane-bound structures (organelles) that perform specific roles
What 4 kingdoms can eukaryotes be categorised into?
- protista
- fungi
- plantae
- animalia
What are protista?
unicellular organisms; or multicellular organisms without specialised tissue
What are fungi?
have a cell wall made of chitin and obtain nutrition via heterotrophic absorption
What are plantae?
have a cell wall made of cellulose and obtain nutrition autotrophically (via photosynthesis)
What are animalia?
no cell wall and obtain nutrition via heterotrophic ingestion
What are organelles?
Organelles are specialised sub-structures within a cell that serve a specific function
What are 3 universal organelles (pro and eukaryote)?
- ribosomes
- cytoskeleton
- plasma membrane
What is the structure of a ribosome?
Two subunits made of RNA and protein; larger in eukaryotes (80S) than prokaryotes (70S)
What is the function of a ribosome?
Site of polypeptide synthesis (this process is called translation)