1.1 Cell structure

There are two distinct types of cell. Bacteria are prokaryotes while human and animal cells are eukaryotes .

Activity 1 Exploring cell basics

Allow about 15 minutes

(a) Study the general organisation of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells in Figure 1. Then read more about each component below.

Figure 1 Schematic diagram of a typical (a) eukaryotic animal cell and (b) prokaryotic bacterial cell (not drawn to scale).

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Cell membrane

A complex structure enclosing the cytosol of living cells which controls the passage of substances into and out of the cell.

Cell wall

A protective outer layer which provides mechanical support to the cell. It also prevents harmful surges of water moving into the cell by osmosis which could cause it to burst (lysis).

Cytosol

A watery fluid in which many chemical reactions take place.

Ribosome

A structure where proteins are made in the cell. Each ribosome consists of a large and a small subunit which have distinct roles in protein synthesis.

Mitochondrion

The place in a cell where chemical energy derived from nutrients is converted to a form that can be used by the cell (plural, mitochondria).

Endoplasmic reticulum

The place in a cell that sorts proteins and ensures they are transported to the correct part of the cell. The rough endoplasmic reticulum is studded with ribosomes.

Nucleus

A membrane-bound structure that encloses the genetic material (DNA).

DNA

Deoxyribonucleic acid is a large molecule containing the cell’s genetic information. This is the complete set of instructions needed for an organism to grow, survive and reproduce.

(b) What structural differences can you see between the bacterial and the animal cell?

Although there are similarities between the two cell types, eukaryotic cells are structurally much more complex. Prokaryotes and eukaryotes carry out the same essential processes necessary for survival, such as making new proteins, metabolism and reproduction, but these processes are not identical. For example, different proteins might be produced or different enzymes used to drive key chemical reactions.

Antibiotics are selectively toxic because they target structural features or cellular processes in the bacterial pathogen that are different or lacking in the host’s cells.