Structure of Prokaryotes

Question 1

What are the names of 3 structures unique to prokaryotes?

Answer 1

• Flagellum
• Pili
• Mesosomes
• Circular DNA

Question 2

Describe the role of the capsule?

Answer 2

Capsule provides an additional level of protection to a prokaryote and helps it deal with changes to its external environment

Question 3

What is a bacterium’s cell wall made of?

Answer 3

it’s made of a polymer called murein. Murein is a glycoprotein.

Question 4

What’s the difference between the main DNA and the DNA in plasmids?

Answer 4

plasmids are small loops of dna that aren’t part of the main circular DNA molecule. plasmids aren’t always present and some cells can have several

Question 5

How is the shape of the DNA different in eukaryotes and prokaryotes?

Answer 5

prokaryotes have plasmids which are small loops of DNA.

The DNA in prokaryotes are smaller in size, circular and present in cytoplasm while the eukaryotic DNA is larger in size, arranged on chromosomes and located in the nucleus of the cell.”

Question 6

What’s the difference between flagellum and pili?.

Answer 6

Pili is used for prokaryotic attachment to surfaces and is an appendage while flagella assists the prokaryote in movement.

Flagella are not straight but helical while Pili are straight and non-helical.

Flagella are whip-like and long while pili are hair like and short.

Question 7

What size ribosomes to bacteria have?

Answer 7

70s ribosomes

Question 8

What happens at the mesosomes?

Answer 8

meososomes are inward fold in the plasma memebrane.

scientists are still debating what their function is. some believe that they play a role in various cellular processes and other think they aren’t natural