1.2. The Prokaryotic Cell

Question 1

Eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells are similar in some ways…

Answer 1

Cytoplasm.

Ribosomes.

Plasma membrane.

Cell wall (some).

Question 2

Eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells are different in some ways…

Answer 2

Nucleoid.

Slime layer (some): a polysaccharide layer referred to as a ‘capsule’.

Flagella (some): locomotory structure that aids movement.

Pili (some): spikes that allow prokaryotic cells to bind to others to exchange genetic information or allow to bind to animals cells to feed.

Question 3

Prokaryotic cell wall…

Answer 3

Only found on some prokaryotes, located outside the plasma membrane.

This helps maintain the shape of the cell.

Made of peptidoglycan (and in some, encased in lipopolysaccharide).

Question 4

Endospores…

Answer 4

Found within highly vegetative cells.

They are dormant and highly resistant to environmental stress.

Question 5

Deposits or…

Answer 5

Inclusions.

Found within the cytoplasm of prokaryotic cells.

This includes reserves of lipids and carbohydrates (starch and glycogen).

Question 6

Mycoplasma…

Answer 6

Bacteria that lack a cell wall.

This makes them unaffected by some antibiotics.

For example, M. pneumoniae.