1.2.e Compare and contrast the structure of typical prokaryotic cells with typical eukaryotic cells (reference to mesosomes should not be included).
PROKARYOTIC V EUKARYOTIC CELLS🦠:
- The two main types of cells are prokaryotic cells, e.g. bacterial cells, and eukaryotic cells, e.g. animal and plant cells.
- Prokaryotic cells are nucleus-free! (This means, that the DNA present in these cells is naked/free-floating in the cytoplasm).
- On the other hand, eukaryotic cells possess nuclei that contains DNA.
Other features of prokaryotes and eukaryotes are summarised in the table below:
As you can see from the table, prokaryotic cells are a lot smaller and do not have all the organelles which are present in eukaryotic cells.
📘💯GCE CIE Biology Exam Advice: If a compare and contrast type question arises in an exam, keep in mind that you need to discuss elements that are similar (compare) AND discuss elements that are different (contrast).
Done deal! Till next time! 👋
References:
Jones, M., & Parkin, M. (2018). Cambridge International As and A level biology. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.