5 Questions
What is the meaning of the word 'prokaryote' derived from?
Before nucleus
In the three-domain system, prokaryotes are divided into which domains?
Bacteria and Archaea
Which of the following is a characteristic of prokaryotes?
Asexual reproduction via mitosis
What is the function of bacterial microcompartments discovered in prokaryotes?
Quasi-organelles enclosed in protein shells
How do some prokaryotes like cyanobacteria form colonies?
Held together by biofilms
Study Notes
Prokaryote Characteristics
- The term "prokaryote" is derived from the Greek words "pro" meaning "before" and "karyon" meaning "nut", referring to the absence of a true nucleus.
Classification
- Prokaryotes are divided into two domains: Archaea and Bacteria in the three-domain system.
Characteristics
- A characteristic of prokaryotes is the lack of a true nucleus, instead having a single circular chromosome found in the cytoplasm.
Microcompartments
- Bacterial microcompartments discovered in prokaryotes have the function of separating metabolic processes from the rest of the cell.
Colony Formation
- Some prokaryotes, such as cyanobacteria, form colonies by adhering to each other through sticky surfaces or specialized structures.
Test your knowledge on the classification of prokaryotes, single-cell organisms without a nucleus or membrane-bound organelles. Learn about the origins of the term 'prokaryote' and its classification in different biological systems.
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