Chapter 2 : Cell Structure

The cell theory states:

All living things or organisms are made of cells
and their products.
New cells are created by old cells dividing into
two.
Cells are the basic building units of life.
All metabolic processess take places within cells.

Modern interpretation :
The generally accepted parts of modern cell theory
include:
All known living things are made up of one or more cells.
All living cells arise from pre-existing cells by division.
The cell is the fundamental unit of structure and function in
all living organisms.
The activity of an organism depends on the total activity of
independent cells.
Energy flow (metabolism and biochemistry) occurs within
cells.
Cells contain hereditary information (DNA) which is
passed from cell to cell during cell division.
All cells are basically the same in chemical composition in
organisms of similar species.

2.1 Prokaryotic Cells

The feature that makes a prokaryotic cell very different from a

eukaryotic cell is its genetic material. The bacterial DNA is in
direct contact with the cytoplasm.
There is no enclosing membrane and therefore no
recognisable nucleus.
Prokaryotes possess a single, continuous, circular thread
of DNA.
The DNA is located in a region of the cytoplasm called a
nucleoid.
Small structures called plasmids may also be present. These
carry DNA with only a few genes responsible for special
metabolic pathways and resistance to antibiotics.
Plasmids can transfer between bacteria and it is this property
that has made them important in genetic engineering.

The ribosomes found in prokaryotic cells are smaller

than those of eukaryotes and are involved in protein
synthesis.
The rate at which bacteria divide requires a high level of
protein synthesis and thus many ribosomes are needed.
Thus ribosomes may constitute as much as 40% of the cell
mass.
Prokaryotic cells possess 70S ribosomes whereas
eukaryotic cells possess 80S ribosomes.(S stands for
Svedberg units and is a measure of how rapidly the
ribosomes sediment in a centrifuge.
80S ribosomes sink quickest because they are heaviest)

2.1 Prokaryotic Cells

Includes bacteria and cyanobacteria
Have DNA not enclosed by nuclear
membrane
Lack organelles bounded by a double
membrane

2.2 The Eukaryotes

Includes the protoctists, fungi, animals,
and plants
Have chromosomes surrounded by welldefined nuclear membranes

Differences between Prokaryotes

and Eukaryotes
Prokaryotes
E.g. bacteria,
cyanobacteria

Eukaryotes
E.g. protoctists, fungi,
animals and plants

Average diameter : 0.5 Average diameter of cell

5 m
: 10 100 m

Differences between Prokaryotes

and Eukaryotes
Prokaryotes

Eukaryotes

Circular double
strands of DNA,
not surrounded by
doublemembraned
envelope

Most DNA are associated with

histone proteins to form
chromosomes
Surrounded by doublemembraned nuclear
Circular DNA are presented in
mitochondria and chloroplasts

Some bacteria
have small
circular palsmids

Plasmids are absent

Differences between Prokaryotes

and Eukaryotes
Prokaryotes
Few organelles
No doublemembraned
organelles

Eukaryotes
Many organelles
Have double-membraned
organelles such as nucleus,
mitochondria and
chloroplasts

No mitosis or meiosis Mitosis, meiosis, or both can

No spindle formation occur
There is spindle formation

Differences between Prokaryotes

and Eukaryotes
Prokaryotes

Eukaryotes

Ribosomes are
smaller, 70S
ribosomes occur as
free particles in
cytoplasm

Ribosomes are larger, 80S

ribosomes occur as free
particles in cytoplasm or are
bound to ER

Rigid cell Walls

containing murein
(peptidoglycan)

Cell walls of plants and algae

contain cellulose, fungi contain
chitin and animal cells have no
cell walls

Differences between Prokaryotes

and Eukaryotes
Prokaryotes

Eukaryotes

Mesosomes in bacteria and No mesosomes.

plasma membrane of
Mitochondria function as
cyanobacteria contain
sites for cellular respiration
respiratory enzymes.
No mitochondria
Some are photoautotrophs Chloroplasts contain grana
Photosynthetic membranes
not stacked into grana
No chloroplasts

Differences between Prokaryotes

and Eukaryotes
Prokaryotes
Flagella, if present,
contain flagellin, and lack
microtubules

Eukaryotes
Flagella, if present, have
a `9 + 2 arrangement of
microtubules

Some prokaryotic cells

Eukaryotic cells do not
have enzymes that can fix contain enzymes that can
atmospheric nitrogen for fix atmospheric nitrogen
use in amino acid
synthesis

2.2.1 Animal Cell

Cell Structure Overview

2.2.2 Plant Cell

Differences between Plant Cell and

Animal Cell
Animal Cell

Plant Cell

No cell wall, only plasma Have rigid cell wall and

membrane
plasma membrane
No plasmodesmata and Palsmodesmata and pits
pits
presents in cell wall

Differences between Plant Cell and

Animal Cell
Animal Cell

Plant Cell

No chloroplasts

Chloroplasts present in
photosynthetic cells

Small, temporary
vacuoles

Large, permanent
central vacuole filed with
cell sap

Differences between Plant Cell and

Animal Cell
Animal Cell

Plant Cell

No tonoplast

Tonoplast around
vacuole

Nucleus often central.

Ctoplasm throughtout
the cell

Nucleus usually
peripheral

Differences between Plant Cell and

Animal Cell
Animal Cell

Plant Cell

Centrioles present

No centrioles

Contain glycogen
granules

Contain starch granules

Differences between Plant Cell and

Animal Cell
Animal Cell

Plant Cell

Some cells have cilia or

flagella, e.g. ciliated
cells of trachea,
oviducts, flagellum of
spermatozoon

No cilia or flagella

Lysosomes present

Lsosomes usually
absent except
insectivorous plants e.g.
nepenthes utricularia

Differences between Plant Cell and

Animal Cell
Animal Cell
Smaller than plant cells

Plant Cell
Often larger than animal
cells although sizes
varies greatly