1.1 cell structure

• Cells are the basic building blocks of life and the smallest unit of life that can replicate independently
• Animal and plant cells are examples of eukaryotic cells
• Bacterial cells are prokaryotic cells
• Animal and plant cells are multicellular, while bacterial cells are unicellular
• Animal and plant cells contain a cell membrane, nucleus, cytoplasm, mitochondria, and ribosomes
• Plant cells have additional structures compared to animal cells:

  • Rigid cell wall made of cellulose for support and structure
  • Permanent vacuole containing cell sap
  • Chloroplasts for photosynthesis
• Bacterial cells have a cell membrane, cell wall, ribosomes, and cytoplasm
• Bacterial cells do not have mitochondria or chloroplasts or nucleas
• Bacterial cells have a single circular strand of DNA called the nucleoid
• Some bacteria may have plasmids, which carry extra genes like antibiotic resistance
• Some bacteria may have flagella for movement