Compare plant and bacterial cells. Can you complete this task? Let's remember together the structural features of these cells, their vital functions, as well as the similarities and differences.
Functional unit of plants
A characteristic feature of plant cells is the presence of green chloroplast plastids. These constant structures are the basis of photosynthesis. In the process, inorganic substances turn into carbohydrates and oxygen. Compare plant and bacterial cells - and you will see that the first type has much larger sizes. Some of them can be distinguished even with the naked eye. For example, large cells of the pulp of watermelon, lemon or orange.
What do plant and bacterial cells have in common?
Despite the fact that these cells form the organisms of different kingdoms, there are a number of significant similarities between them. They have a general structural plan and consist of a surface apparatus, cytoplasm and permanent structures - organelles.
Both plants and bacteria contain genetic material. An obligatory component of the surface apparatus of both types of cells is the cell membrane and wall. Some bacteria, like plants, have a cytoskeleton that forms their musculoskeletal system. Another similarity is the presence of motion organelles. Compare plant and bacterial cells: the green alga chlamydomonas moves with the help of flagella, and spirochetes use fibrils for this.
Differences between plant and bacterial cells
The main difference between these cells is the structure and level of development of the genetic apparatus. Bacteria do not have a formed nucleus. They contain a circular DNA molecule, the location of which is called the nucleoid. Such cells are called prokaryotic. In addition to bacteria, these include blue-green algae.
Compare plant and bacterial cells. The former are eukaryotic. In their cytoplasm there is a nucleus, in the matrix of which DNA molecules are stored. Bacteria lack many cellular organelles, which determines their low level of organization. They, unlike plant cells, have no mitochondria, Golgi complex, endoplasmic reticulum, peroxisomes, all types of plastids, including chromo- and leukoplasts.
The differences also apply to the chemical composition of the cell wall. In plants, it contains complex carbohydrate cellulose, and bacteria contain pectin or murein.
So, based on a comparison of plant and bacterial cells, we can conclude that, along with similar features, there are a number of significant differences between them. First of all, they relate to the organization of the genetic apparatus and the presence of organelles.
Plant cells are characterized by more progressive structural features and vital processes compared with bacteria, as evidenced by the wide variety of their species and life forms.