Eukaryotic and Prokaryotic cells

Question 1

Features of a plant cell:

Answer 1

• Tough, slightly elastic cell wall, (also cell membrane).
• Pits and plasmodesmata in cell wall.
• Large numbers of chloroplasts.
• Large vacuole filled with cell sap.
• Nucleus usually at the edge of cell.
• No centrioles, cilia and flagella.
• Starch used for storage.
• Only some cells are capable of division.

Question 2

Features of an animal cell:

Answer 2

• Only cell surface membrane is present.
• No cell wall, therefore no pits or plasmodesmata.
• No chloroplasts.
• Vacuole usually absent, however may have small, scattered ones e.g. contractile vacuole.
• Nucleus can be anywhere in the cell, usually central.
• Centrioles, cilia and flagella present.
• Glycogen granules used for storage.
• Almost all cells are capable of division.

Question 3

Features of a prokaryotic cell:

Answer 3

• Smaller cells (<5um).
• No nucleus/nucleolus.
• No chloroplasts, however, photosynthetic pigments found on membrane.
• DNA is circular.
• Ribosomes are smaller (70s).
• Non membrane bound organelles only.
• Cell walls contain peptidoglycan.
• Reproduction is always asexual.
• Flagella may be present but lack 9+2 arrangement.
• Cytoskeleton present.

Question 4

Features of a eukaryotic cell:

Answer 4

• Larger cells (>10um).
• True nucleus/nucleolus.
• Chloroplasts sometimes present.
• DNA is linear and associated with proteins to form chromosomes.
• Ribosomes are large (80s).
• Possess both non and membrane bound organelles.
• Cell wall formed of cellulose (plant) and chitin (yeast).
• Reproduction asexual/sexual.
• Flagella present and has 9+2 arrangement.
• More complex cytoskeleton present.