B1.12 Bacterial Cells Flashcards
What are bacteria?
The smallest living organisms (unicellular)
Name two examples of prokaryotes:
Escherichia coli (e.coli) - cause food poisoning
Streptococcus bacteria - causes sore throats
What antibiotic comes from streptomyces bacteria?
Streptomycin - kills many disease causing bacteria
What sub-cellular structures do prokaryotic cells contain?
- Cell wall
- Genetic material
- Cell membrane
- Cytoplasm
What is and what are the cell walls function here? (1)
- Made of peptidoglycan which holds the cell together and protects it
How is the genetic material stored here?
-Floats freely in the cytoplasm
-In one long strand of DNA called the bacterial chromosome (typically circular
What’s the function of the cytoplasm here?
- a jellylike substance
- where chemical reactions occur
What is the function of the cell membrane here?
Barrier that controls which substances enter and leave the cell.
Some types of bacterial cells have extra sub cellular structures - adaptions to their environment. What are they?
-Flagella
-Plasmid
-Pili
-Slime capsule
What is the function of the flagella?
Tail like structures that allow the cell to move through liquids.
What are the functions of pili? (2)
- Tiny hairlike structures that enable the cell to attach to structures
- Transfer genetic material between bacteria
What is the function of the slime capsule? (3)
- layer outside the cell wall
- protects a bacterium from drying out or from poisonous substances
- helps the bacteria to stick to smooth surfaces
What is and what are the functions of plasmids? (2)
- A circular piece of DNA used to store extra genes
- Not needed for bacterium’s day to day survival, may help in times of stress
What are the similarities between plant and bacterial cells?
Both have a cell wall, cytoplasm and cell membrane
What are the differences between plant and bacterial cells?
Plant cells have chloroplasts, permanent vacuole and nucleus unlike bacterial cells
