Prokaryotes

e.g. bacteria
 General Features of
Prokaryotes
Pro – before; karyo – nucleus

• Nucleoid instead of a • Small ribosomes

defined nucleus • Circular DNA
• Single-celled • Has mesosomes instead
• Surrounded by a slimy of mitochondria
capsule • Has photosynthetic
• No membrane bound capabilities
organelles • Has pilli and flagella
 Domain Archaea Aerial view of hot spring at Yellowstone

Archaea means “ancient”

►Unicellular
►Prokaryotic
►Autotrophic or heterotrophic
► Organisms that reproduce asexually
► Bacteria that have adapted to extreme environments.
► Some can survive in extremely hot environments, like around hot
springs and geysers. They are called ______________________.
► Some can survive in extremely salty environments, like The Great Salt
Lake in Utah. They are called __________________.
How can bacteria survive such
extremely hot temperatures?

•This hot spring is flowing into the

Firehole River in Yellowstone. The colors
are caused by different varieties of
archaebacteria and other microscopic
life forms. Scientists can distinguish
temperatures of water by the colors
present.
•Suggest an explanation for this.
 Domain Eubacteria
Many are common
infectious agents.
Eu – true
►Unicellular
►Prokaryotic
►Autotrophic or heterotrophic
►Organisms that reproduce asexually
►The most abundant organisms on earth.
One bacterium can give rise to 10 million
bacterial cells in 24 hours.
►Found in almost every habitat on earth.
This is a picture of bacteria on the skin (ugh!!!). Bacteria can
be shaped like a sphere (cocci) like this picture, like a rod, or
like a spiral. The structure in the middle of this picture is a
hair follicle with a hair growing out of it.
 KEY POINTS TO REMEMBER
• The Domains Archaea and Eubacteria are commonly grouped
together and are called prokaryotes because they lack
membrane-bound nuclei and membrane-bound organelles.
• From this domain the Kingdom Monera is derived. The features of
this Kingdom is based on the features of the prokaryotes.

Nucleus and
Organelles