Chapter 4
Cell Structure and Function in the Bacteria
and Archaea
Chapter Summary and Essay Questions
Chapter 4 deals with the diversity of the two prokaryotic domains, the Bacteria and the Archaea.
This is followed by a discussion of the diversity of their cell shape and arrangement. The
remaining parts of the chapter deal primarily with cell structures found extending from or
associated with the exterior of the bacterial cell, forming the envelope between environment and
cell interior, and occurring in the cell interior. On completing this chapter, you should be able to
answer the following essay questions:
a. Distinguish between the two domains of prokaryotes, the Bacteria and the Archaea. Explain
how they differ from the Eukarya.
b. Identify the major phylain the Bacteria and Archaea.
c. Name and describe the basic shapes in which bacterial cells appear.
d. Summarize the variations in arrangements that can be observed among bacterial species.
e. Describe the nature of attachment and conjugation pili with respect to chemical
composition, function, and size.
f. Explain the role for flagella on some bacterial cells, and describe how they move toward a
chemical nutrient.
g. Describe the composition, and identify the functions of the glycocalyx. Identify the type of
glycocalyx that may be found on a bacterial cell.
h. Contrast the components of the gram-positive and gram-negative bacterial cell walls.
i. Explain how lysozyme and penicillin affect the cell wall.
j. Describe the structure and functions of the bacterial cell membrane.
k. List the components of the bacterial cytoplasm.
l. Determine how the nucleoid differs from and is similar to a cell nucleus.
m. Assess the usefulness of plasmids to cell viability and growth.
n. Compare bacterial ribosomes with those in eukaryotic cells.
o. Describe the other types of subcompartments or microcompartments that can be found in
bacterial cells.
p. Summarize the role of the bacterial cytoskeleton to cell structure and function.
q. Discuss the concept of compartments in prokaryotic cells versus those in eukaryotic cells.