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5.16: Summary Table of Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells and Functions

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    68574
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    Components of Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells and Functions

    Cell Component Function Present in Prokaryotes Present in Animal Cells Present in Plant Cells
    Plasma Membrane Separates cell from external environment; controls passage of organic molecules, ions, water, oxygen, and wastes into and out of the cell Yes Yes Yes
    Cytoplasm Provides structure to cell; site of many metabolic reactions; medium in which organelles are found Yes Yes Yes
    Nucleoid Location of DNA Yes No No
    Nucleus Cell organelle that houses DNA and directs synthesis of ribosomes and proteins No Yes Yes
    Ribosomes Protein synthesis Yes Yes Yes
    Mitochondria ATP production/cellular respiration No Yes Yes
    Peroxisomes
     
    Oxidizes and breaks down fatty acids and amino acids, and detoxifies poisons No Yes Yes
    Vesicles and vacuoles
     
    Storage and transport; digestive function in plant cells No Yes Yes
    Centrosome
     
    Unspecified role in cell division in animal cells; organizing center of microtubules in animal cells No Yes No
    Lysosomes
     
    Digestion of macromolecules; recycling of worn-out organelles No Yes No
    Cell wall
     
    Protection, structural support and maintenance of cell shape Yes, primarily peptidoglycan in bacteria but not Archaea No Yes, primarily cellulose
    Chloroplasts Photosynthesis No No Yes
    Endoplasmic reticulum Modifies proteins and synthesizes lipids No Yes Yes
    Golgi apparatus Modifies, sorts, tags, packages, and distributes lipids and proteins No Yes Yes
    Cytoskeleton Maintains cell’s shape, secures organelles in specific positions, allows cytoplasm and vesicles to move within the cell, and enables unicellular organisms to move independently Yes Yes Yes
    Flagella Cellular locomotion Some Some No, except for some plant sperm
    Cilia Cellular locomotion, movement of particles along extracellular surface of plasma membrane, and filtration No Some No

    Table \(\PageIndex{1}\): The components of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells and their respective functions.

    Query \(\PageIndex{1}\)

    Query \(\PageIndex{2}\)

    Query \(\PageIndex{3}\)

    Query \(\PageIndex{4}\)

    References

    Unless otherwise noted, images on this page are licensed under CC-BY 4.0 by OpenStax.

    Text adapted from: OpenStax, Concepts of Biology. OpenStax CNX. May 18, 2016 http://cnx.org/contents/b3c1e1d2-839...9a8aafbdd@9.10


    5.16: Summary Table of Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells and Functions is shared under a CC BY license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.

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