Prokaryote Cell Structures quiz Flashcards

The capsule, also known as the slime layer, is a large polysaccharide coating that provides an additional protective layer for the cell.

Endospores are super resilient, dormant forms of bacteria that form in response to harsh conditions or a lack of nutrients.

Fimbriae are appendages that allow bacterial cells to adhere to surfaces.

Flagella are whip-like appendages used for locomotion and sensation in prokaryotic cells.

The pilus, or sex pilus, is involved in conjugation, allowing bacteria to pass DNA between cells.

Prokaryotic cells make up 60% of Earth's biomass.

Unlike bacteria, archaea do not use peptidoglycan in their cell walls.

Binary fission is an asexual reproduction process where one cell divides into two identical daughter cells.

Transformation occurs when a prokaryotic cell incorporates exogenous DNA from the environment into its genome.

Transduction is the process where DNA is transferred from one bacterial cell to another by a virus.

Extremophiles are organisms that thrive in extreme environments, and many belong to the domain Archaea.

Methanogens produce methane as a byproduct of their metabolism and are found in environments like swamps and the guts of animals.

The phospholipids of hot spring archaea are made of isoprene units, which allow their membranes to resist breaking down at high temperatures.

Bacteriophages can transfer bacterial DNA between cells, introducing genetic variation through a process called transduction.

The genetic machinery for transcription and translation in archaea is more similar to eukaryotes than to bacteria.

Fimbriae are surface appendages that allow a bacterium to stick to a surface.

A capsule helps bacteria evade detection by the immune system by providing a dense, organized layer that can mask antigens and prevent phagocytosis.

Bacterial smears are used to prepare bacteria for staining and microscopic examination, allowing for the observation of cell shape, arrangement, and Gram reaction.

Fimbriae are surface appendages that allow a bacterium to stick to a surface.

The gram-negative outer membrane is a complex structure that contains lipopolysaccharides and provides an additional barrier to certain antibiotics and detergents.

The DNA-containing region of a bacterial cell is indicated by the letter 'N' for nucleoid.

A function of a bacterium's capsule is to protect the cell from desiccation and phagocytosis, aiding in survival and virulence.

The outer membrane is a component of gram-negative cells but not gram-positive cells.