CHAPTER 2:

CELL STRUCTURES AND

FUNCTIONS

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2.1 Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells

Learning outcomes:
At the end of the lesson, students should be able
to:

a) State the three principles of cell theory

c) Illustrate and compare the structures of

eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells ( plant and
animals)

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Three (3) Principles of Cell Theory
Introduced by Schleiden (1838), Schwann (1839) & Rudolf Virchow (1855)

1. Cell is the basic & functioning unit of living things

(Campbell et.al., Biology. 10th ed. 54-55)

• All living things are made of 1 or more cells

• Cell is the smallest unit that can conduct all
activities of life (metabolism)

2. Cell is derived from other cell by cell division

• Cells can divide to form new cells

3. Cell contains hereditary material

• Cells contain hereditary material (DNA) which is passed
from cell to cell during cell division

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 Types of Cell
Based on structural organisation:

Types of Cell

Prokaryotic cell Eukaryotic cell

Eg: bacteria, cyanobacteria Eg: protists, fungi, plants & animals
(blue green algae)

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 Prokaryotic Cells

Chromosomal DNA
Plasmid DNA
Ribosome
Flagellum

Cytoplasm

Capsule

Plasma Cell Wall

Pili/fimbriae membrane 5
 Prokaryotic Cells
1. No distinct nucleus. DNA is lying free in the
cytoplasm in the region called nucleoid. What is
nucleoid?

*Nucleoid is a region where the cell’s DNA is located (not enclosed by

a membrane) 6
 Prokaryotic Cells
2. No membrane bound organelles

Prokaryotic cell Eukaryotic cell

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 Prokaryotic Cells
3. Generally smaller than eukaryotic cells
(typical bacteria are 1μm - 5μm)
*Campbell et.al., Biology. 11th ed. 164

4. Small Ribosomes, 70S which functioned as

site for protein synthesis.

5. Cell division through

binary fission

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 Prokaryotic Cells
6. Cell wall consists of peptidoglycan to protects the
cell and give shape.

(a) Gram-positive bacteria

(b) Gram-negative bacteria

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 Prokaryotic Cells
7. Generally have circular DNA (genetic material)
and not associated with histone protein.

*Few genes(genetic material) can be found in plasmid in prokaryotic cells

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 Prokaryotic Cells

Circular DNA
• Lies freely in the
cytoplasm

Plasmid
• Smaller ring
• Independently
replicating DNA

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 Prokaryotic Cells
8. Flagella lacks 9+2 arrangement of microtubule
which functioned for movement

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 Prokaryotic Cells
9. Surrounded by capsule.
Polysaccharide or protein coating secreted
outside the cell wall for additional protection.

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 Prokaryotic Cells
10.Pili/Fimbriae (hair-like structures on the cell
surface) which functioned for attachment to other
cell/ surface and sex pilus is used to exchange
genetic material during conjugation.

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 Prokaryotic Cells

11. Mesosome is infolding of the plasma membrane

which used to synthesis ATP.

mesosome

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 Eukaryotic Cells

1. Membrane enclosed organelles.

(all organelles are surrounded by membrane)

2. Large in size
(Diameter: 10 – 100µm)

3. Large Ribosomes, 80S

(site for protein synthesis)

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 Eukaryotic Cells
4. Distinct nucleus (Genetic material is enclosed
by a nuclear membrane)

Animal cell
Plant cell 17
 Eukaryotic Cells
5. Cell division by mitosis and meiosis.
6. Cell wall composed of cellulose in plant or
chitin in fungi.

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 Eukaryotic Cells
7. Flagella have 9+2 arrangement of microtubule
which functioned for movement

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 Eukaryotic Cells
8. Linear DNA associated with histone protein

Histone
protein

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 Differences between
Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes.
Prokaryote Eukaryote
Generally smaller in size. Generally larger in size.
*Diameter (1μm - 5µm) *Diameter (10 – 100µm)
Cell division by binary fission Cell division through mitosis
or meiosis
• No distinct nucleus, • A distinct membrane-
nucleoplasm with no nuclear enclosed nucleus.
envelope.
• Genetic materials lies free in • Genetic materials enclosed in
cytoplasm (nucleoid) nucleus
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 Differences between
Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes.
Prokaryote Eukaryote
No membrane-bound Membrane-bound organelles
organelles present
Genetic materials/DNA is DNA is linear and associated
circular & not associated with histone protein
with histone protein
Ribosomes are smaller. Ribosomes are larger. Subunit
Subunit 70S 80S

Flagella have no 9+2 Flagella have 9+2

fibril/microtubule fibril/microtubule arrangement
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arrangement
 Differences between
Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes.
Prokaryote Eukaryote
Cell wall consists of Cell wall consists of cellulose
peptidoglycan in plant or chitin in fungi.

Types of organism is Types of organism are

unicellular organism. unicellular and multicellular
organism.
Presence of mesosome to Presence of mitochondria to
generate ATP generate ATP

Example: Bacteria and Example: Protists, fungi,

archaebacteria animals and plants
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 Similarities between
prokaryotes and eukaryotes.
• Both enclosed by plasma membrane
• Both have cytoplasm
• Both have ribosomes
• Both cells contain genetic materials
• Both can perform cell division

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