Prokaryote Characteristics Flashcards

1
Q

Name the six shapes that prokaryotes can have.

A
  1. coccus
  2. Bacillus
  3. Vibrio
  4. Spirochete
  5. Spirillum
  6. Coccobacillus
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2
Q

Which bacteria shapes are capable of arrangement?

A

coccus and bacillus

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3
Q

What is the importance of the cell wall in bacteria?

A

To resist osmotic pressure.

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4
Q

What can happen to a cell in a hypertonic solution?

A

Crenation, the water moves out of the cell.

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5
Q

What can happen to a cell in a hypotonic solution?

A

Cell lysis, the water moves into the cell

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6
Q

What is plasmolysis?

A

The process in which the cell membrane contracts as water leaves the cell in a hypertonic solution.

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7
Q

What is the importance of plasmids in bacteria? What are plasmids?

A

Plasmids are extra DNA floating freely in the cytoplasm. They carry advantageous traits such as antibiotic resistance, eat new food source, and increase replication of bacteria speed.

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8
Q

What is the difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic ribosomes?

A

Prokaryotic-70S
Eukaryotic-80S

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9
Q

What are inclusions? What is their function?

A

A storage place for excess nutrients. Could be phosphate, carbohydrates, or sulfur.

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10
Q

What are endospores?

A

A state that allows certain bacteria to survive long periods without food, water, or even resist harsh environments. Dormant, no metabolic activity.

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11
Q

What is the benefit of having a circular nucleoid in prokaryotic cells? Versus having a linear structure in eukaryotic cells?

A

Circular structure–> infinite life cycle
Linear–> little bits of the end is shortened with every replication (finite life cycle)

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12
Q

What is the purpose of having a pilus?

A
  1. Motility purposes: it can move the bacteria around.
  2. Genetic exchange: it can give plasmids to other bacteria.
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13
Q

What is the purpose of the fimbriae?

A

It is adhesive tool. It allows the bacterial cell to attach itself to surfaces.
Ex: vibrio cholera has strong fimbriae, it stays on even when the system is being flushed with diarrhea

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14
Q

Flagella aids in motility for the prokaryotic cell, in what ways does it move the cell? (two ways)

A
  1. running (found an attractive force)
  2. tumbling (hoping to find something)
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15
Q

What is the main difference between eukaryotic cells and prokaryotic cells?

A

Eukaryotic cells have a membrane-bound nucleus.
Prokaryotic cells have a membrane-less nucleoid.

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16
Q

Why is membrane-less nucleoid advantageous for prokaryotic cells?

A

higher chance of mutation
-this is bad for humans because of cancer or genetic mutations
-this is good for prokaryotic because it can develop new traits that are beneficial

17
Q

Why are capsules beneficial for prokaryotic cells?

A

The capsule enclose the prokaryotic cell and hides its surface proteins from the White Blood Cells, preventing an immune response.

18
Q

What is found in bacterial cell walls that is not found in eukaryotic cells?

A

Peptidoglycan

19
Q

What makes up the peptidoglycan layer in bacterial cell walls?

A

N-acetylglucosamine (NAG) and N-acetylmuramic acid (NAM)

20
Q

what is the peptidoglycan difference between gram + and gram - bacteria?

A

Gram - bacteria have a direct link between NAM and NAG.
Gram + bacteria have pentapeptide linked between NAM and NAG

21
Q

What is teichoic acid? Is specific to gram + or gram -?

A

Specific to gram + it helps stabilize the peptidoglycan and can allow bacteria to bind to certain surface proteins of host cells increasing infection.

22
Q

What is Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)? gram - or gram +?

A

Specific to gram -, LPS is an endotoxin which causes fever, hemorrhaging, and septic shock.

23
Q

This feature on gram - and gram + bacteria determine their serological variant. A key feature that is different for variants of the same family of bacteria.

A

Teichoic acid and LPS

24
Q

What is LPS composed of?

A

Lipid A, a core polysaccharide, and the O side chain.

25
Q

What are the four arrangements of flagella?

A
  1. Monotrichous (one flagella)
  2. Amphitrichous (one flagella at each end)
  3. Lophotrichous (a tuff of flagella at one end)
  4. Peritrichous ( tuffs of flagella all around)
26
Q

What is a biovar?

A

A genetic difference between the same species of bacteria.

27
Q

What is a serovar?

A

A surface protein difference between the same specides of bacteria.

28
Q

What is the difference between serovars and biovars?

A

Biovars: one biovar may have a gene for it to be toxic, one biovar may not. Different DNA but they are structurally the same.
Serovars: Same DNA but they have different surface proteins.