Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells Lab Report

Eukaryotic cells contain membrane-bound organelles, including a nucleus. Eukaryotes can be single-celled or multi-celled, such as you, me, plants, fungi, and insects. Bacteria are an example of prokaryotes. Prokaryotic cells do not contain a nucleus or any other membrane-bound organelle.

There are several key differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Eukaryotic cells are found in multicellular plants and animals, whereas prokaryotic cells are found in bacteria and archaea which are ususlly unicellular. I have summarised the key differences below:

Prokayotic cells do not have membrane-bound organelles, such as the endoplasmic reticulum or mitochondria.

Prokaryotic cells do not have a nucleus, instead they have circular DNA that is free in the cytoplasm.

Prokaryotic cells have smaller ribosomes than eukaryotic cells.

Prokaryotic cells have a cell wall. Their cell wall is made from a different material to a plant cell, a glycoprotein called murein.

Prokaryotic cells may also have a protective layer called a capsule, flagellum to aid in movement and one or more plasmids.

Explanation:

fertilization, pictured in figure 24.23a is the process in which gametes (an egg and sperm) fuse to form a zygote. the egg and sperm each contain one set of chromosomes. to ensure that the offspring has only one complete diploid set of chromosomes, only one sperm must fuse with one egg. in mammals, the egg is protected by a layer of extracellular matrix consisting mainly of glycoproteins called the zona pellucida. when a sperm binds to the zona pellucida, a series of biochemical events, called the acrosomal reactions, take place. in placental mammals, the acrosome contains digestive enzymes that initiate the degradation of the glycoprotein matrix protecting the egg and allowing the sperm plasma membrane to fuse with the egg plasma membrane, as illustrated in figure 24.23b. the fusion of these two membranes creates an opening through which the sperm nucleus is transferred into the ovum. the nuclear membranes of the egg and sperm break down and the two haploid genomes condense to form a diploid genome.

explanation: