Nature of Bacteria and
Fungi
Higher Level only
Learning Objectives
 Discuss the prokaryotic nature of bacteria
 Discuss the eukaryotic nature of fungi
Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic
 Living things can be divided into two
categories with regard to the structure and
complexity of their cells:


Prokaryotes
Eukaryotes
Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic
 Prokaryotic cells do
not have a nucleus or
membrane enclosed
organelles e.g.
bacterial cells
 Eukaryotic cells
have a nucleus and
membrane enclosed
organelles e.g.
plant, animal, protist
and fungal cells
Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic
Prokaryotic - Bacteria
 Bacteria are
prokaryotic cells
 Their kingdom Monera
is also referred to as
prokaryotae
 They are extremely
small (0.5 – 10 μm)
Prokaryotic - Bacteria
 As they do not have
a true nucleus,
bacterial DNA is
found as a circular
loop floating freely
in the cytoplasm
 They do not have
membrane
enclosed organelles
like mitochondria
and chloroplasts
Eukaryotic – Fungi, plants, animals, protists
 The cells of all other
kingdoms are
eukaryotic
 More advanced

they have a true
nucleus and
membrane enclosed
organelles
 evolved from
prokaryotic cells
Prokaryotic cells
e.g. Bacteria
Eukaryotic cells
e.g. Fungi
Extremely small
Larger
No nucleus
Nucleus
No membrane enclosed Membrane enclosed
organelles
organelles
DNA circular (loop)
DNA arranged into
chromosomes
Cell division preceded
by DNA replication
Cell division preceded
by mitosis or meiosis
Learning Check
 What two categories can cells be placed in?
 In what way does a bacterial cell differ from a
fungal cell?
Syllabus
Depth of treatment
 Prokaryotic nature of bacteria
 Eukaryotic nature of fungi