Question

What are the characteristics of prokaryotic cells.

Answer 1

Characteristics of Prokaryotic cell

• Prokaryotic cells are smaller and multiply more rapidly than eukaryotic cells.
• They have cell wall surrounding the cell membrane and the fluid matrix filling the cell is the cytoplasm. They don’t have a well defined nucleus. 
• Few prokaryotes like bacteria has additional small circular DNA called plasmids outside the genomic DNA. These plasmids confer unique phenotypic characters to such bacteria.
• Prokaryotic cell does not contain membrane bound organelles found in eukaryotes except ribosomes..
• A specialised differentiated form of cell membrane called mesosome are found in prokaryotes. These are membranous structure formed by the extensions of plasma membrane into the cell.
• Most prokaryotic cells like bacterial cells have chemically complex cell envelope consisting of tightly bound three layers viz. the outermost glycocalyx, the cell wall and the plasma membrane.
• Ribosomes, are made of two sub units 50s and 30s units which when present together form 70s prokaryotic ribosomes. 
• Reserve material in prokaryotic cells are stored in cytoplasm in the form of inclusion bodies which lie free in the cytoplasm.