Prokaryotic Cells
Your turn…….
Extremely small
No nucleus
DNA circular
Small ribosomes
Cell wall made of a polysaccharide,
but not cellulose or chitin
Cytoplasm
Flagella made of
protein flagellin,
arranged in helix
E.Coli bacterium
Less-developed cytoskeleton with
DNA and RNA
no centrioles
No membrane bound
organelles such as
mitochondria, endoplasmic
reticulum, chloroplast or
Golgi apparatus
Eukaryotic Cells
DNA linear
Using a Venn diagram
compare prokaryotic
Cellulose cell wall (plants) and eukaryotic cells.
Plasma
or chitin cell wall (fungi)
membrane
You need to arrange
Large ribosomes the statements
Ribosomes for provided to complete
assembling
amino acids
Flagella made of microtubule your Venn diagram.
into proteins proteins arranged in “9+2”
formation You will have 5min to
discuss and complete
Human liver cell this task with your
partner.
Ensure you both have
a completed copy.
Extra features on some prokaryotic cells
• A protective waxy capsule surrounding their cell wall

• Small loops of DNA, called plasmids, as well as the main large loop of DNA

• Flagella- long-whip like projections that enable them to move. The structure
of these flagella differs from that of eukaryotic undulipodia

• Pili- smaller hair like projections that enable the bacteria to adhere to host
cells or to each other, and allow the passage of plasmid DNA from one cell
to another.
Binary fission………
The process by which prokaryotic cells reproduce, its their type of
simple cell division Prokaryotic
cells do not
have linear
Key points: chromosomes
so cannot
In binary fission the cell splits into two as shown in carry out
mitosis.
the diagram.

The steps to binary fission are:

1. The circular DNA and plasmid(s) replicate
2. The cell gets bigger and the circular DNA strands
move to “opposite poles” (ends) of the cell
3. The cytoplasm begins to divide and new cell
walls begin to form.
4. The cytoplasm divides and two daughter cells are
produced. Each daughter cell has one copy of the
circular DNA, but can have variable number of
copies of the plasmid(s).
Bacteria can divide very quickly if given the right conditions
(e.g. a warm environment and lots of nutrients).
Some bacteria, such as E.coli, can take as little as 20min to
replicate in the right environment, if the conditions become
unfavourable then the cells will stop dividing.
Binary= two parts
Fission= splitting
Key points to note
• Prokaryotes (bacteria) do not have any membrane bound organelles, but they
do have organelles that are not covered by a membrane, such as ribosomes.

• Bacteria are microorganisms because they are very small. Also prokaryotes
because of their cell structure. However, not all microorganisms are
prokaryotes.

• Yeast and amoebae have eukaryotic cells

• Viruses are microscopic but they do not have cells.

Success criteria 3: Explain the endosymbiont theory

Watch the video on endosymbiont theory and complete the questions relating to
the theory.
 How can you remember prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell What were the initial varieties of prokaryotes?
1 2
features?

Endosymbiont theory
4 What are the facts that prove this theory? What types of ancestor eukaryotes were there? 3
Success criteria 4: Apply your understanding of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells

Exam practice questions:

1. Features that support the theory of
1. What features of chloroplasts and endosymbiont include; small ribosomes,
mitochondrial structures support the loops of DNA, contain RNA and divide by
endosymbiont theory of the origin of binary fission.
eukaryotic cells? 2. Prokaryotic cell
2. An unidentified cell is found to contain 3. Prokaryotic cell wall made of
mitochondria. Is it eukaryotic or prokaryotic? polysaccharide, but not cellulose or chitin
3. How is a prokaryotic cell wall different to a like that of eukaryotic
eukaryotic cell wall? 4. Three functions;
4. Give three functions of a cell’s cytoskeleton - Strengthen the cell
5. Describe the role of the nucleolus - Responsible for movement of materials
6. State three functions of the nucleus - Microtubules and microfilaments support
cell’s organelles, keeping them in position
5. Nucleolus makes ribosomes
6.- Control centre of cell
- Stores the organism’s genome
- Transmits genetic information
- Provides instructions for protein synthesis