Cell structure Flashcards
Module 1
How many fundamentally types of cell?
Two - Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells
Definition of cells
The smallest structural and functional unit of an organism, which is typically microscopic and consists of cytoplasm and a nucleus enclosed in a membrane
Definition of Tissue
A level of organisation in multicellular organisms; it consists of a group of structurally and functionally similar cells and their intercellular material.
Definition of Biochemical
Relating to the chemical processes and substances which occur within living organisms
Definition of Electron Microscopy
A technique for obtaining high-resolution images of biological and non-biological specimens.
Definition of Microbiology
The branch of science that deals with microorganisms
Definition of Bacteria
A member of a large group of unicellular microorganisms which have cell walls but lack organelles and an organised nucleus.
Definition of Membrane
A thin sheet of tissue or layer of cells acting as a boundary, lining, or partition in an organism.
Definition of Cytoplasm
The material or protoplasm within a living cell, excluding the nucleus
Definition of Cytosol
The aqueous component of the cytoplasm of a cell, within which various organelles and particles are suspended
What are eukaryotes?
An organism consisting of a cell or cells in which the genetic material is DNA
What are prokaryotes?
A microscopic single-celled organism which does not have a distinct nucleus.
Taxonomy
The classification of something, especially organisms - Phân loại
What types of Domain do Prokaryotes include?
Bacteria and Archaea
Characteristics of prokaryotic cells?
- Usually unicellular and generally smaller and less complex than eukaryotic cells.
- The organelles of prokaryotic cells are not membrane-bound.
Characteristics of eukaryotic cells?
- Contain membrane-bound organelles.
What types of Domain do Eukaryotes include?
Eukarya - including protists, fungi, plants and animals.
How many kingdoms are there?
Five - Eubacteria, Archaeabacteria, Protista, Plantae, Fungi, Animalia
Which Kingdoms do Prokaryotes possess?
Bacteria - Archaea
Which kingdom do Eukaryotes possess?
Protista - Plantae - Fungi - Animalia
What is peptidoglycan?
- Peptidoglycan (murein) is a polymer made of sugar (polysaccharide) and amino acid
- Serve a structural role in the bacterial cell wall, giving structural strength, as well as counteracting the osmotic pressure of the cytoplasm.
- Dense peptidoglycan layer which is critical for maintaining cell form and withstanding high osmotic pressures.
What are the properties of the cell wall of Bacteria Gram (+)?
- Thick cell wall (30 layers of peptidoglycan) -> which retains the dying colour.
- Monoderm - One layer
What are the properties of the cell wall of Bacteria Gram (-) ?
- Thin peptidoglycan layer
- Diderms - two layers
What is “Endosymbiotic theory”?
The theory states that some organelles in Eukaryotic cells were once prokaryotic microbes (Chloroplasts, Mitochondria).
Distinguish Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes.
- Prokaryotes:
+ Don’t have membrane-bound organelles
+ Do not possess a nucleus, just nucleoid
+ Cell wall which protects Prokaryotes much better than Eukaryotes. - Eukaryotes:
+ Include lots of membrane-bound organelles: mitochondria, Golgi apparatus, …
+ Have nucleus, DNA packed into multiple chromosomes.
+ Some may have cell wall but not as effective as prokaryotes
Diseases caused by bacteria??
Tuberculosis - Ear infection - Food poisoning - Pneumonia - Strep Throat - Staph Infection
Where to find prokaryotic organism?
Can be found everywhere - even in extreme environments such as volcanoes.
What is the capsule of bacteria?
- The capsule in bacteria is the outer layer enclosed the cell wall of bacteria.
- The capsule protects the bacterial cell from damage, dehydration and engulfment by eukaryotic cells.
- It also helps the bacteria stick to surfaces, increase the virulence (ability to cause disease) of pathogenic bacteria.
Structure of a prokaryotic cell?
Prokaryotic flagellum - Food granule - Ribosomes - Pili - Chromosomes (nucleoid region) - Capsule or Slime layer - Cell wall - Cytoplasm - Plasmid (DNA) - Plasma membrane.
Plasmids
Small rings of double-stranded DNA
How can some prokaryotes move around?
Using a tail-like structure called flagellum
Which part of the structure of prokaryotes help to generate movement?
Pili - This is also involved in the transfer of DNA between organism => specialised pili that can attach to surfaces are called fimbriae.
Where are bacteria common in?
Bacteria are common in moist, low-salt environments of moderate temperature, where sunlight or organic compounds are plentiful, and inside or on plants and animals.
Why bacteria need little oxygen to survive?
Because they have many ways of extracting energy and fixing carbon.
- For example, they can obtain energy from sunlight (photosynthesis) or by reducing inorganic compounds such as sulfides or ferrous ions (chemosynthesis).
What is the function of bacteria in ecosystems?
- They break down many kinds of substances, including plant and animal remains and wastes.
- Bacteria also widely used in industry to manufacture foods, such as cheese and yoghurt and in medicine to produce antibiotics, drugs and even human insulin.
- Some bacteria can even break down oils and plastics, making them useful for pollution control.
Eukaryotes:
- They are much larger and more complex than prokaryotic cells.
- Eukaryotic cells have a cell (plasma) membrane that surrounds the cell’s cytoplasm and internal (non-plasma) membranes that from specialised compartments within the cell.
Compare the size of prokaryotic cells and eukaryotic cells
- Prok: very small (0.1 to 5 micrometer)
- Euk: larger, with large variation in size (10 to 100 micrometer)
Compare the SA:V between prokaryotic cells and eukaryotic cells
- Prok:
+ Large SA:V ratio
+ Allows materials to diffuse in and out the cell rapidly - Euk:
+ Smaller SA:V ratio
+ Results in slower diffusion
Compare the membrane-bound organelles of prokaryotic cells and eukaryotic cells
- Prok:
+ Absent, no membrane-bound organelles - Euk:
+ Many organelles bound by membranes, forming an organised internal structure (such as mitochondria, Golgi bodies, endoplasmic reticulum,…)
Compare chromosomal DNA of prokaryotic cells and eukaryotic cells
- Prok:
+ A single circular chromosome and small circular DNA molecules called plasmids
+ Located in a region of cytoplasm called the nucleoid, lacking a membrane - Euk:
+ Linear chromosomes
+ Located in the nucleus, which is separated from the cytoplasm by a double-layered membrane.