{"id":1254,"date":"2017-01-18T20:17:01","date_gmt":"2017-01-18T20:17:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-biology2\/?post_type=chapter&p=1254"},"modified":"2024-04-25T18:45:25","modified_gmt":"2024-04-25T18:45:25","slug":"introduction-to-the-structure-of-prokaryotes","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-biology2\/chapter\/introduction-to-the-structure-of-prokaryotes\/","title":{"raw":"Introduction to the Structure of Prokaryotes","rendered":"Introduction to the Structure of Prokaryotes"},"content":{"raw":"

Describe the structure of prokaryotic cells<\/h2>\r\nThere are many differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. The name \"prokaryote\" suggests that prokaryotes are defined by exclusion\u2014they are not eukaryotes, or organisms whose cells contain a nucleus and other internal membrane-bound organelles. However, all cells have four common structures: the plasma membrane, which functions as a barrier for the cell and separates the cell from its environment; the cytoplasm, a complex solution of organic molecules and salts inside the cell; a double-stranded DNA genome, the informational archive of the cell; and ribosomes, where protein synthesis takes place. Prokaryotes come in various shapes, but many fall into three categories:\u00a0cocci<\/em>\u00a0(spherical),\u00a0bacilli<\/em>\u00a0(rod-shaped), and\u00a0spirilli<\/em>\u00a0(spiral-shaped) (Figure 1).\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1257\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"1024\"]\"Part Figure 1. Prokaryotes fall into three basic categories based on their shape, visualized here using scanning electron microscopy: (a) cocci, or spherical (a pair is shown); (b) bacilli, or rod-shaped; and (c) spirilli, or spiral-shaped. (credit a: modification of work by Janice Haney Carr, Dr. Richard Facklam, CDC; credit c: modification of work by Dr. David Cox; scale-bar data from Matt Russell)[\/caption]\r\n

What You\u2019ll Learn to Do<\/h2>\r\n