Describe features of prokaryotes that enable them to thrive in a wide range of different environments.
To describe: The features of prokaryotes to enable them to thrive in varied environments.
Introduction: Prokaryotes are small unicellular organisms that exhibit peculiar features in their structural organization that make them adapt to a varied range of different environments. These features include the presence of peptidoglycans cell wall, flagella, endospore formation, and resistant genes in plasmids.
Explanation of Solution
The cell walls of prokaryotes are peptidoglycan in nature, which protect the cell, maintain its shape, and prevent it from bursting into the hypotonic environment. In many prokaryotes, the cell wall is surrounded by a sticky coat of polysaccharides or protein, which is known as a capsule. The capsule and slime layers protect the organisms against dehydration and attack their host immune system. Certain bacteria exhibit the property of endospore formation, which enables them to cope up with scarcity of water and nutrients. During the endospore formation, the entire water content is removed to halt the metabolism of bacteria, so that they can survive in the extreme environment in a dormant stage and regain viability even after centuries when they resume their metabolism in a favorable environment. The prokaryotes exhibit short generation time with a large population size, which results in the new mutations to increase the genetic diversity to adapt the variations in a local environment, and thus leading to the evolution. Although the bacteria contain a single chromosome, they may also contain plasmids to carry few genes that provide them antibiotic resistance.
There are several features that help the prokaryotes to survive in extreme conditions.
Want to see more full solutions like this?
Chapter 27 Solutions
CAMPBELL BIOLOGY MOD MASTERING (18 WEEK)
- Describe how prokaryotes are ecologically important. Give specific examples.arrow_forwardWhich of the following describe prokaryotes? a) usually have a circular chromosome b) typically have multiple chromosomes c) are usually diploid d) none of the abovearrow_forwarddescribe the typical sizes and shapes of prokaryotes?arrow_forward
- Explain how prokaryotic cells obtain nutrients and how thisprocess puts constraints on their size.arrow_forwardList the different means by which prokaryotic cells can move.arrow_forwardCompare the mechanisms by which most eukaryotic cells acquire nutrients with those used by bacteria and archaea. What are the implications in terms of survival in different habitats and competition between eukaryotic microbes such as protists and bacteria and archaea?arrow_forward
- In the diagram below, identify the structures of a cyanobacterial cell based on the following descriptions: a) Outer cellular covering which includes: Mucilaginous layer – outermost layer covering the cell wall; protects the cell from harmful factors of the environment Cell wall – found just below the mucilaginous layer; 2 or 3-layered, the inner layer lies in between the outer wall layer and plasma membrane; the outer layer is made of peptidoglycan Innermost plasma membrane – selectively permeable membrane enclosing the cytoplasm b) Cytoplasm – found below the plasma membrane; the protoplasm which contains structures of different shapes and functions. Lamellae, which contain pigments such as chlorophylls, carotenes, xanthophylls, phycoerythrin and phycocyanin, are located in the peripheral region of cytoplasm. Ribosomes may also be found scattered in the cytoplasm. c) Nucleic material – the nucleoplasm that is centrally located in the cell and contains chromatin in the form…arrow_forwardCellular inclusions in prokaryotic cells serve to A) store energy rich compounds. B) protect DNA. C) position cells in the appropriate environment for survival. D) store energy rich compounds and position cells in the appropriate environment for survival.arrow_forwardProvide examples of other variations in the shape of prokaryotic cells, and describe each variation.arrow_forward
- Concepts of BiologyBiologyISBN:9781938168116Author:Samantha Fowler, Rebecca Roush, James WisePublisher:OpenStax College