Cells A Comparison of Eukaryotes and Prokaryotes

What is a Prokaryote Cell? Most prokaryote cells are small, very small (less than 5 micrometers), with a simple internal stucture. They are surrounded by a simple membrane to protect the bacterial cell This is the point of attack for antibiotics (they affect cell wall synthesis) Most prokaryote cells are small, very small (less than 5 micrometers), with a simple internal stucture. They are surrounded by a simple membrane to protect the bacterial cell This is the point of attack for antibiotics (they affect cell wall synthesis)

A Prokaryotic Cell Some bacteria can move, propelled by flagella (different from those in Eukaryotes) Surface projections called pili (pilus sing.) are used to attach bacteria to surfaces or for genetic exchange. Some bacteria can move, propelled by flagella (different from those in Eukaryotes) Surface projections called pili (pilus sing.) are used to attach bacteria to surfaces or for genetic exchange.

A Prokaryotic Cell Capsules or slime layers are polysaccharide or protein coatings that some disease- causing bacteria secrete outside their cell wall helping cells attach to their host.

A Prokaryotic Cell Studies have been done with mutants lacking this coating or shell and they seem to have no harmful effects without it. Unlike the elaborate cytoplasm of Eukaryote cells Prokaryote cytoplasm is generally very simple. Studies have been done with mutants lacking this coating or shell and they seem to have no harmful effects without it. Unlike the elaborate cytoplasm of Eukaryote cells Prokaryote cytoplasm is generally very simple.

A Prokaryotic Cell Prokaryote cells generally have a single circular strand of DNA which is coiled and attache to the plasma membrane and concentrated in the region of the cell called the nucleoid.

A Prokaryotic Cell The nucleoid is not however physically separated from the cytoplasm. This is a key difference, prokaryotic cells lack nulei as well as the other membrane-enclosed organelles that eukaryotic cells posses. Though this is not a strict rule, some photosynthetic bacterial cells posses membrane bound light- capturing proteins and enzymes. The nucleoid is not however physically separated from the cytoplasm. This is a key difference, prokaryotic cells lack nulei as well as the other membrane-enclosed organelles that eukaryotic cells posses. Though this is not a strict rule, some photosynthetic bacterial cells posses membrane bound light- capturing proteins and enzymes.

A Prokaryotic Cell One of the last structure to be mentioned about prokaryotic cells is the existence of ribosomes. These are structures composed of proteins and ribonucleic acid (RNA) on which proteins are synthesis occurs One of the last structure to be mentioned about prokaryotic cells is the existence of ribosomes. These are structures composed of proteins and ribonucleic acid (RNA) on which proteins are synthesis occurs

A Prokaryotic Cell Finally there may be the existence of food granules that store engery-rich materials such as glycogen.

Comparison of Prokaryote and Eukaryote