PROKARYOTIC CELL
Before we can move forward, you need to know...
•All organisms (living things) are made of cells.
•Most of the organisms you are familiar with are multicellular-made up of many cells.
•However, some organisms can be unicellular-made up of only one cell.
Cells fall into one of two categories
1. Prokaryotes (prokaryotic cell)
The single-celled organisms of the domains Bacteria and Archaea are classified as prokaryotes (pro =
before; karyon– = nucleus).
2. Eukaryotes (eukaryotic cell)
Animal cells, plant cells, fungi, and protists are eukaryotes (eu = true).
Characteristics of Prokaryotes
Prokaryotes are the simplest type of cell.
Oldest type of cell appeared about four billion years ago.
Prokaryotes are the largest group of organisms.
They are unicellular organisms that are found in all environments.
• Prokaryotes do not have a nuclear membrane. Their circular shaped genetic material dispersed
throughout cytoplasm.
• Prokaryotes do not have membrane bound organelles. They have a simple internal structure
• Prokaryotes are smaller in size when compared to Eukaryotes.
Shapes of Prokaryotes
Cocci = spherical (round) Bacillus = (rod shaped) Spirilla = helical (spiral)
Prokaryotic cell features
Nucleoid: A central region of the cell that contains its DNA.
Ribosome: Ribosomes are responsible for protein synthesis.
Cell wall: The cell wall provides structure and protection from the outside environment. Most bacteria
have a rigid cell wall made from carbohydrates and proteins called peptidoglycans.
Cell membrane: Every prokaryote has a cell membrane, also known as the plasma
membrane, that separates the cell from the outside environment.
Capsule: Some bacteria have a layer of carbohydrates that surrounds the cell wall called the capsule. The
capsule helps the bacterium attach to surfaces.
Pili: Pili are rod-shaped structures involved in multiple roles, including attachment and DNA transfer.
Flagella: Flagella are thin, tail-like structures that assist in movement.
Plasmid: Contain genes that enhance the survival of an organism, either by killing other organisms or by
defending the host cell by producing toxins. Some plasmids facilitate the process of replication in bacteria.
Characteristics of Eukaryotes
Eukaryotic cells appeared approximately one billion years ago.
Eukaryotes are generally more advanced than prokaryotes.
They are multicellular organisms.
Nuclear Membrane surrounds linear genetic material (DNA).
Unlike prokaryotes, eukaryotes have several different parts.
They have a complex internal structure.
Eukaryotes are larger that prokaryotes in size.
Eukaryotic cell features
Nucleus Nucleolus Plasma membrane Cytoskeleton or cell wall Ribosomes
Mitochondria Cytoplasm Cytosol Endoplasmic reticulum Vesicles and vacuoles
Cell Size
At 0.1–5.0 µm in diameter, prokaryotic cells are significantly smaller than eukaryotic cells, which have
diameters ranging from 10–100 µm.
The small size of prokaryotes allows ions and organic molecules that enter them to quickly spread to
other parts of the cell.
However, larger eukaryotic cells have evolved different structural adaptations to enhance cellular
transport.
Indeed, the large size of these cells would not be possible without these adaptations.
In general, cell size is limited because volume increases much more quickly than does cell surface area.
As a cell becomes larger, it becomes more and more difficult for the cell to acquire sufficient materials to
support the processes inside the cell.
Differences
Prokaryotes
• Circular DNA • Unicellular • Cells are smaller in size • Has larger number of organisms
• Appeared 4 billion years ago
Eukaryotes
• Linear DNA • May be multicellular or unicellular • Cells are larger in size • Has smaller number of
organisms • Appeared 1 billion years ago
CELL PARTS
3 Main Parts of Cell
1. Nucleus 2. Cytoplasm 3. Plasma Membrane/Cell Membrane
Nucleus
• It is one of the most obvious parts of the cell when you look at a picture of the cell, located near the
center of the cell.
• It is a double-membraned organelle found in all eukaryotic cells.
• Present in all cells except RBC and sieve tube cells.
• Well developed in plant and animal cell.
• Undeveloped in bacteria and blue-green algae (cyanobacteria)
• Most of the cells are uninucleated (having one nucleus).
• Few types of cells have more than one nucleus (skeletal muscles).
• It is the membrane-enclosed organelle within a cell that contains all of the cell's chromosomes, which
encode the genetic material. So this is really an important part of the cell to protect.
• It is the largest organelle, which functions as the control center of the cellular activities and is the
storehouse of the cell’s DNA.
• Hence, the nucleus controls the characters and functions of cells in our body.
• Nucleus has a double layered covering called nuclear membrane.
• Nuclear membrane has pores of diameter about 80- 100nm.
• Colorless dense sap present inside nucleus known as nucleoplasm.
• Nucleoplasm contains round shaped nucleolus and network chromatin fibers.
• Fibers are composed of DNA and protein histone.
• These fibers condense to form chromosomes during cell divisions.
Nucleolus
• Non-membrane bound structure within the nucleus that is made up of protein and nucleic acids.
• It also carries an essential structure called chromosomes.
• Responsible for the synthesis of protein and RNA.
• Found in both plant and animal cell (in all eukaryotic cells).
Cytoplasm
• Jelly-like material formed by 80% of water.
• Present between the plasma membrane and the nucleus.
• Contains a clear liquid portion called cytosol and various particles.
• Particles are proteins, carbohydrates, nucleic acids, lipids, and inorganic ions.
• The cytoplasm is one of the essential components of the cell, where all the cell organelles are embedded.
• Some of these organelles are visible only under an electron microscope.
Plasma/Cell Membrane
• The plasma membrane is also termed as a Cell Membrane or Cytoplasmic Membrane.
• It is a selectively permeable membrane of the cells, which is composed of a lipid bilayer and proteins.
(Semipermeable)
• Made up of two layers of lipid molecules in which protein molecules are floating.
• Can be observed under an electron microscope only.
•The plasma membrane is present both in plant and animal cells.
•Functions:
Maintains shape & size of the cell
Protects internal contents of the cell
Regulates entry and exit of substances in and out of the cell.
Maintains homeostasis
