{"id":234,"date":"2018-01-18T18:31:07","date_gmt":"2018-01-18T18:31:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-nmbiology2\/chapter\/introduction-to-the-structure-of-prokaryotes\/"},"modified":"2024-04-26T18:04:21","modified_gmt":"2024-04-26T18:04:21","slug":"introduction-to-the-structure-of-prokaryotes","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-nmbiology2\/chapter\/introduction-to-the-structure-of-prokaryotes\/","title":{"raw":"Introduction to the Structure of Prokaryotes","rendered":"Introduction to the Structure of Prokaryotes"},"content":{"raw":"

What you'll learn to do: Describe the structure of prokaryotic cells<\/h2>\r\nThere are many differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. 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 jelly-like substance inside the cell; nucleic acids, the genetic material of the cell; and ribosomes, where protein synthesis takes place. Prokaryotes come in various shapes, but many fall into three categories: cocci (spherical), bacilli (rod-shaped), and spirilli (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]","rendered":"

What you’ll learn to do: Describe the structure of prokaryotic cells<\/h2>\n

There are many differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. 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 jelly-like substance inside the cell; nucleic acids, the genetic material of the cell; and ribosomes, where protein synthesis takes place. Prokaryotes come in various shapes, but many fall into three categories: cocci (spherical), bacilli (rod-shaped), and spirilli (spiral-shaped) (Figure 1).<\/p>\n

\"Part<\/p>\n

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)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t

Candela Citations<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
CC licensed content, Original<\/div>