Structure of cells and organelles

Prokaryotic cells
Major differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells
Prokaryotic cells (bacteria, cynobacteria)
Eukaryotic cells (green plants, fungi, animals)
Usually extremely small, 0.5-10m in diameter
Usually larger cells, 10-100 m in diameter
Mostly binary fission, no spindle
Mitosis, meiosis, or both; spindle formed.
DNA is circular and lies free in the cytoplasm (no true
nucleus). DNA is naked (not associated histone
proteins or RNA to form chromosomes)
In some prokaryotes, sexual system involves transfer
of some DNA from one cell to another
Cell walls present, but chemically different from those
of plants; they contain polysaccharides and amino
acids (peptidoglycans)
Few organelles; membraneous structures absent or
very simple and existing briefly in the cell
Protein synthesised in small ribosomes (70S)
Some cells have simple flagella; these are without
microtubules, 20 nm in diameter
Some can fix nitrogen for use in amino acid synthesis
Differences between plant and animal cells
PLANT CELLS
Tough, slightly elastic cellulose cell wall present (in
addition to the cell membrane)
Pits and plasmodesmata present in the cell wall
Middle lamella join cell walls of adjacent cells
Plastids, e.g. chloroplast and leucoplasts, present in
large numbers
Mature cells normally have a large single, central
vacuole filled with cell sap
Tonoplast present around vacuole
Cytoplasm normally confined to a thin layer at the
edge of th cell
Nucleus at edge of the cell
Lysosomes not normally present
Centrioles absent in higher plants
Cilia and flagella absent in higher plants
Starch grains used for storage
Only meristematic cells are capable of division
Few secretions are produced

DNA is linear and contained in a nucleus. DNA is

associated with histone proteins and RNA to form
chromosomes
Sexual system involves complete nuclear fusion
between special sex cells (gametes), with equal
contribution from both nuclei
Cell walls present in plants and fungi; they made of
cellulose or chitin
Many organelles, bounded by double membranes
(chloroplasts, mitochondria, nucleus) and single
membrane (Golgi apparatus, lysosome, vacuole,
endoplasmic reticulum)
Protein synthesised in large ribosomes (80S)
Some cells have complex cilia and flagella; these have
9+2 arrangement of microtubules, 200 nm in diameter
None have this facility
ANIMAL CELLS
Cell wall absent-only a membrane surrounds the cell
No cell wall and therefore no pits or plasmodesmata
Middle lamella absent-cells are joined by intercellular
cement
Plastids absent
Vacuoles, e.g. contractile vacuoles, if present, are
small and scattered throughout the cell
Tonoplast absent
Cytoplasm present throughout the cell
Nucleus anywhere in the cell but often central
Lysosomes almost always present
Centrioles present
Cilia or flagella often present
Glycogen granules used for storage
Almost all cells are capable of division
A wide variety of secretions are produced