Prokaryotic organisms are unicellular and the cells have a simple structure. They have no membrane-bound organelles and their genetic material is a single, compact loop of supercoiled DNA called a chromosome.The genes on the chromosome are often grouped into operons, a cluster of genes that are transcribed together to give a single messenger RNA (mRNA) molecule. This allows a group of proteins to be synthesised at the same time.The ribosomes are 70S ribosomes unlike the 80S ribosomes of eukaryotes.The cell walls are made of peptidoglycan (murein).The flagella are thinner, more simple structures which do not have the 9+2 structure of Eukaryotic cilia and flagella. They are made of a protein called flagellin and are attached to the cell membrane by a basal body and rotated by a molecular motor.Some bacteria have attachment structures called pili and a slime capsule for protection.
Prokaryotic Cell Structure
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Specification: AQA Biology (7401), AS-level, 3.2.1.2 Structure of prokaryotic cells and of viruses. Topic: Cell Structure.
Key terms in this lesson
- ribosome
- A small organelle, made of RNA and protein, that is the site of protein synthesis.
- eukaryotic cell
- A cell that has a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles.
- gene
- A length of DNA that codes for a polypeptide or a functional RNA molecule, at a specific locus on a chromosome.
More in Cell Structure
- Vacuoles
- Cell Structure and Function
- Cell Specialisation
- Tissues
- Organs
- Organ Systems
- Prokaryotic vs Eukaryotic Cells
- Viruses
All 26 lessons in Cell Structure · All AQA AS-level Biology topics