Bacterial Cell Structure and Function

Bacteria are prokaryotic cells crucial to human health and disease. They lack a nucleus and complex organelles, having a simpler structure compared to eukaryotic cells. Bacterial cells are surrounded by a cell envelope, including a cell wall that determines if they are gram-positive or gram-negative. The plasma membrane is vital for enclosing the cytoplasm and facilitating nutrient exchange. Bacteria contain genetic material in the nucleoid and plasmids, which can provide advantages like antibiotic resistance. They move and attach using structures like pili and flagella.

What distinguishes prokaryotic cells like bacteria from eukaryotic cells?

• Having a complex structure

• Ability to perform photosynthesis

• Lack of membrane-bound organelles

• Presence of a nucleus

What is the primary component of the bacterial cell wall?

• Chitin

• Cellulose

• Peptidoglycan

• Lignin

How do gram-positive bacteria differ from gram-negative bacteria?

• Gram-negative bacteria have a thicker peptidoglycan layer

• Gram-positive bacteria have a thicker peptidoglycan layer

• Gram-negative bacteria lack a cell wall

• Gram-positive bacteria have an outer membrane

What is the main function of the bacterial plasma membrane?

• To provide structural support

• To enclose the cytoplasm and regulate interactions with the environment

• To store genetic information

• To produce energy through photosynthesis

Which process is NOT a function of the bacterial plasma membrane?

• Respiration

• Photosynthesis

• Lipid synthesis

• Protein synthesis

What is the role of ribosomes in bacterial cells?

• To synthesize proteins

• To transport nutrients

• To store genetic material

• To provide structural support

What is the nucleoid in bacterial cells?

• A protective layer outside the cell wall

• A type of ribosome

• A region containing the cell's chromosome

• A membrane-bound organelle

What advantage do plasmids provide to bacteria?

• They confer resistance to antibiotics

• They help in cell division

• They produce energy

• They are essential for survival

What is the function of pili in bacteria?

• To provide structural support

• To synthesize proteins

• To attach to other cells

• To store nutrients

How do flagella benefit bacterial cells?

• By providing structural support

• By allowing movement

• By storing genetic material

• By synthesizing proteins