Bacteria cells Flashcards
What types of cell are bacteria?
- Bacteria are all single-celled.
- The cells are all prokaryotic.
What does prokaryotic mean?
This means that they do not have a nucleus or any other structures which are surrounded by membranes.
How can bacterial cells be seen?
Larger bacterial cells may be visible using a light microscope, however an electron microscope would be needed to see the details of the cell organelles.
What features are typically found in a bacterial cell?
- Chromosomal DNA
- Plasmid DNA
- Cell Wall
- Cell membrane
- Ribosomes
- Cytoplasm
What additional features can be found in a bacterial cell(in some cases)?
- Flagellum
- Slime Capsule
What features do plant + animal cells have in common with bacterial cells?
- Plant + animal cells have some components in common with bacterial cells.
→ These include the cell membrane + cytoplasm + cell membrane + ribosomes.
How is chromosomal DNA related to its function? ( where + how it is found?)
The DNA of bacterial cells is found loose in the cytoplasm.
It is called chromosomal DNA and is not enclosed within a nucleus.
How does plasmid DNA relate to it’s function ( how is it found + what can it do?)
Bacteria also have small,closed-circles of DNA called plasmids present in their cytoplasm.
Unlike the chromosomal DNA, plasmid DNA can move from one bacterium to another giving variation.
How do flagella relate to it’s function?(What is it’s function?)
Bacteria can have one or more flagella(singular:flagellum).
These can rotate or move in a whip-like motion to move the bacterium.
How does the cell wall relate to it’s function? (what is it’s function?)
Plant and bacterial cell walls provide structure + protection.
Only plant cell walls are made from cellulose.
Are bacteria simple or complex?
Bacteria are among the simplest of organisms.
What form of cell division takes place in bacterial cells?
These cells do not divide by mitosis.
Instead they divide themselves by binary fission.
Why does the process of cell division in prokaryotic bacteria have a different name than in eukaryotic plant and animal cells?
The process is similar, but we use a different name for it because prokaryotic bacteria are very different from other eukaryotic plant and animal cells.
Compare the size of a eukaryotic cell + prokaryotic cell
- Eukaryotic cells are larger than prokaryotic cells and most are around 5µm - 100µm.
- Prokaryotic cells are smaller than eukaryotic cell and most are around 0.2µm-2.0µm.
