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    Prokaryotic Cells

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    Mark Lorenz Lorilla
    Prokaryotic cells are single-celled organisms that lack membrane-bound organelles and nuclei. They contain DNA, cytoplasm, plasma membranes, and ribosomes. Bacteria and archaea are prokaryotes that have rigid cell walls made of peptidoglycan or similar structures. Prokaryotic cells range from 0.1 to 5.0 μm in diameter and contain features like flagella, fimbriae, and pili that help with movement and transport. Their small size is optimal for nutrient exchange due to difficulties in transport as cells increase in volume.

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    Prokaryotic Cells

    Uploaded by

    Mark Lorenz Lorilla
    25 views2 pages
    Prokaryotic cells are single-celled organisms that lack membrane-bound organelles and nuclei. They contain DNA, cytoplasm, plasma membranes, and ribosomes. Bacteria and archaea are prokaryotes that have rigid cell walls made of peptidoglycan or similar structures. Prokaryotic cells range from 0.1 to 5.0 μm in diameter and contain features like flagella, fimbriae, and pili that help with movement and transport. Their small size is optimal for nutrient exchange due to difficulties in transport as cells increase in volume.

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    Prokaryotic cells are single-celled organisms that lack membrane-bound organelles and nuclei. They contain DNA, cytoplasm, plasma membranes, and ribosomes. Bacteria and archaea are prokaryotes that have rigid cell walls made of peptidoglycan or similar structures. Prokaryotic cells range from 0.1 to 5.0 μm in diameter and contain features like flagella, fimbriae, and pili that help with movement and transport. Their small size is optimal for nutrient exchange due to difficulties in transport as cells increase in volume.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
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    25 views2 pages

    Prokaryotic Cells

    Uploaded by

    Mark Lorenz Lorilla
    Prokaryotic cells are single-celled organisms that lack membrane-bound organelles and nuclei. They contain DNA, cytoplasm, plasma membranes, and ribosomes. Bacteria and archaea are prokaryotes that have rigid cell walls made of peptidoglycan or similar structures. Prokaryotic cells range from 0.1 to 5.0 μm in diameter and contain features like flagella, fimbriae, and pili that help with movement and transport. Their small size is optimal for nutrient exchange due to difficulties in transport as cells increase in volume.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    Prokaryotic Cells

    Introduction
    Your body is home to around 100 trillion bacterial cells, making it an ecosystem. It consists
    of both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Prokaryotes are single-celled organisms, while
    eukaryotes include animals, plants, fungi, and protists. While not all prokaryotes are single-
    celled, they often have prokaryotic friends.

    Components of prokaryotic cells


    There are some key ingredients that a cell needs in order to be a cell, regardless of whether it
    is prokaryotic or eukaryotic. All cells share four key components:
    1. The plasma membrane is an outer covering that separates the cell’s interior from its
    surrounding environment.
    2. Cytoplasm consists of the jelly-like cytosol inside the cell, plus the cellular structures
    suspended in it. In eukaryotes, cytoplasm specifically means the region outside the
    nucleus but inside the plasma membrane.
    3. DNA is the genetic material of the cell.
    4. Ribosomes are molecular machines that synthesize proteins.

    Prokaryotes and eukaryotes are simple, single-celled organisms with a single open space
    instead of membrane walls. They lack a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles, and the
    majority of DNA is found in the nucleoid, a circular chromosome. Prokaryotes are
    characterized by their nucleoid and other features.

    Bacteria are diverse in form, with most having a rigid cell wall made of peptidoglycan, a
    polymer made of carbohydrates and proteins.
    They also have an outermost layer called the capsule, which helps the cell attach to surfaces.
    Some bacteria have specialized structures on the cell surface, such as flagella, fimbriae, and
    pili, which help them move, stick to surfaces, and exchange genetic material. Archaea may
    also have similar cell surface features, but their versions are typically different from bacteria.

    Prokaryotic cells have diameters between 0.1-5.0 μm, significantly smaller than eukaryotic
    cells. The figure displays cell sizes on a logarithmic scale, highlighting significant differences
    in size.

    Cells must remain small for optimal nutrient exchange with their environment. This is due to
    the difficulty in converting nutrients and wastes as cells grow. For example, a cube-shaped
    cell has a surface area of 6mm2 squared and a volume of 3mm3 cubed. As the cube increases,
    its surface area decreases, resulting in a smaller cell. This phenomenon is observed in various
    plant cells, such as the single-celled seaweed Caulerpa.

    The surface-area-to-volume ratio is crucial for a cell's interaction with its environment, such
    as the plasma membrane. Large cells have limited exchange capacity, causing the membrane
    to have insufficient exchange capacity for increased metabolic activity. The surface-area-to-
    volume problem is exacerbated by cell size, as it takes longer to transport materials.
    Eukaryotic cells can surpass prokaryotic cells due to their structural and metabolic features.
    Geometric tricks, such as long and thin cells or protrusions, can help overcome this issue.

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