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Ch. 1 - The Microbial World and You
Chapter 1, Problem 10.10a

Use the following choices to answer questions 9 and 10.
1. 9 + 2 flagella
2. 70s ribosome
3. fimbria
4. nucleus
5. peptidoglycan
6. plasma membrane


Which is (are) found only in prokaryotes?
a. 1,4,6
b. 3,5
c. 1,2
d. 4
e. 2,4,5

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1
Identify the structures and components listed in the choices that are unique to prokaryotes.
Recall that prokaryotes are characterized by the absence of a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles.
Recognize that peptidoglycan is a major component of the cell wall in most bacteria, which are prokaryotes.
Understand that fimbriae are hair-like appendages found on the surface of many bacteria, aiding in attachment.
Match the identified prokaryotic structures (fimbriae and peptidoglycan) with the given answer choices.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Prokaryotic Cell Structure

Prokaryotic cells are characterized by their lack of a true nucleus and membrane-bound organelles. Instead, their genetic material is located in a nucleoid region. Key structures include the plasma membrane, cell wall, and ribosomes, which differ from those in eukaryotic cells. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for identifying features unique to prokaryotes.
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Peptidoglycan

Peptidoglycan is a polymer that forms a protective layer in the cell walls of bacteria, providing structural integrity and shape. It consists of sugars and amino acids, and is a defining characteristic of prokaryotic cells. Eukaryotic cells do not possess peptidoglycan, making it a key feature for distinguishing between these two cell types.
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Ribosome Differences

Ribosomes are essential for protein synthesis, and their size differs between prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Prokaryotic ribosomes are classified as 70S, composed of 50S and 30S subunits, while eukaryotic ribosomes are 80S. This difference is significant in microbiology, as it can influence antibiotic targeting and the understanding of cellular functions.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question

DRAW IT Show where airborne microbes ended up in Pasteur’s experiment. <IMAGE>

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Textbook Question

Which of the following is an example of bioremediation?

a. application of oil-degrading bacteria to an oil spill

b. application of bacteria to a crop to prevent frost damage

c. fixation of gaseous nitrogen into usable nitrogen

d. production by bacteria of a human protein such as interferon

e. all of the above

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Textbook Question

Spallanzani’s conclusion about spontaneous generation was challenged because Antoine Lavoisier had just shown that oxygen was the vital component of air. Which of the following statements is true?

a. All life requires air.

b. Only disease-causing organisms require air.

c. Some microbes do not require air.

d. Pasteur kept air out of his biogenesis experiments.

e. Lavoisier was mistaken.

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Textbook Question

Bergey’s Manual of Systematics of Archaea and Bacteria differs from Bergey’s Manual of Determinative Bacteriology in that the former

a. groups bacteria into species.

b. groups bacteria according to phylogenetic relationships.

c. groups bacteria according to pathogenic properties.

d. groups bacteria into 19 species.

e. all of the above

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Textbook Question

Bacillus and Lactobacillus are not in the same order. This indicates that which one of the following is not sufficient to assign an organism to a taxon?

a. biochemical characteristics

b. amino acid sequencing

c. phage typing

d. serology

e. morphological characteristics

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Textbook Question

Which of the following is used to classify organisms into the Kingdom Fungi?

a. ability to photosynthesize; possess a cell wall

b. unicellular; possess cell wall; prokaryotic

c. unicellular; lacking cell wall; eukaryotic

d. absorptive; possess cell wall; eukaryotic

e. ingestive; lacking cell wall; multicellular; prokaryotic

131
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