GCSE Biology - AQA
1.1.8 - Structures of Prokaryotic Cells
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Prokaryotic cells are much smaller than eukaryotic cells.
All prokaryotic cells have a cell membrane, cytoplasm, ribosomes and a cell wall.
The cell walls of prokaryotic cells are made out of a different substance to plant and algal cell walls.
Prokaryotic cells do not have a nucleus and they also lack many of the other sub-cellular structures found in eukaryotic cells (such as mitochondria, chloroplasts and vacuoles).
Diagram of a prokaryotic cell, with its sub-cellular structures labelled.
Electron microscope image of bacterial cells (which are prokaryotic cells). Applications of Microscopy in Bacteriology - Scientific Figure on ResearchGate. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/figure/TEM-image-showing-thin-section-of-bacteria-30_fig3_289356904 [accessed 16 Aug, 2021] (CC BY 4.0)
The DNA in a prokaryotic cell is loose in the cytoplasm (unlike in eukaryotic cells, where the DNA is enclosed in a nucleus).
Most prokaryotic cells have one large DNA molecule called a chromosome. Unlike the chromosomes found in eukaryotic cells, the chromosome in a prokaryotic cell usually forms a loop.
In addition to the chromosome, many prokaryotic cells also contain small loops of DNA called plasmids.
Flashcards help you memorise information quickly. Copy each question onto its own flashcard and then write the answer on the other side. Testing yourself on these regularly will enable you to learn much more quickly than just reading and making notes.
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What features do all prokaryotic cells share?
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What is the DNA like in a prokaryotic cell?
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1.1.9 - Functions of Sub-cellular Structures
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1.1.7 - Structures of Eukaryotic Cells
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