Have a cellular structure. Cells that metabolize, respond to changes, move,
grow, and reproduce.
For additional information, see Table 4-1.
In this chapter, you will learn about cellular structure by exploring two kinds of
cells. These are prokaryotic cells and eukaryotic cells. Bacteria are prokaryotic
organisms. Animals, plants, algae, fungi and protozoa are eukaryotic organisms. See
Table 4-2 for a summary of differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.Prokaryotic Cells
Aprokaryotic cellis a cell that does not have a true nucleus. The nuclear struc-
ture is called a nucleoid. The nucleoidcontains most of the cell’s genetic mate-(^68) CHAPTER 4 Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells
Eukaryotic Prokaryotic
Process Cells Cells Viruses
Metabolism: Sum of Yes Yes Uses their host’s cells for
all chemical reactions metabolism
Responsiveness: Yes Yes Some viruses react and multiply
Ability to react to once they enter a host cells
environmental stimuli
Movement: Motion of Yes Yes Virions (viruses outside of a host
individual organelles, cell) are nonmotile
a single cell, or entire Use Brownian movement
organism (random collision)
Growth: Increase in size Yes Yes No
Differentiate Yes No No
Reproduction: Yes Yes Inside host cells
Increase in number
Cellular structures Yes Yes No cytoplasmic membrane
No cell structure
Table 4-1. Basic Life Processes in Microorganisms