Aida Rogonich
10/08/09
Pd. 4
Bio Essay
Describe the structure of a generalized eukaryotic plant cell. Indicate the ways in
which a non photosynthetic prokaryotic cell would differ in structure from this generalized
eukaryotic plant cell.
Eukaryotic cells are found in both plant and animals. They are large and consist of many
organelles. Some eukaryotic cells which are found in plants go through the process of
photosynthesis in order to gain energy. Non photosynthetic cells obviously cannot gain energy
through this process. Prokaryotic cells are less complex and much smaller in comparison to
eukaryotic cells, as they are bacterial cells. The structures of general eukaryotic and non
photosynthetic prokaryotic cells are diverse.
Most importantly, all eukaryotic cells contain a nucleus which store’s the genetic or
hereditary information of that cell. Many processes occur within such cells, one being cellular
respiration. The main organelle in charge of cellular respiration is the mitochondria, which gains
energy to develop the respiration with use of ATP. In plant cell’s, ATP is developed through the
process of photosynthesis. Chloroplasts are a main component of this process. They convert the
energy from sunlight into chemical energy which is stored in molecules like glucose. These
glucose molecules are then converted into pyruvate, through a process called glycolysis, in
order to release free energy called ATP; the kreb’s cycle, also known as the second process of
the mitochondria’s cellular respiration, is another way of releasing free energy. This is all part of
the photosynthetic process of eukaryotic cells.
Eukaryotic cells consist of many more organelles located in the cytoplasm of the cell,
one of them being, the endoplasmic reticulum. The rough E.R. is a structure which creates
ribosome’s, and helps with the processes of endo- and exocytosis. As vesicles form and
molecules enter the cell, they are pinched off into little vesicles (endocytosis). These vesicles
travel through the endoplasmic reticulum and then through the Golgi apparatus, until they
reach the plasma membrane, and pinch out (exocytose). The plasma membrane controls what
enters and exits the cell through a process called diffusion. In addition to cell protection and
shape, the cytoskeleton is in charge of this. These are the many components of eukaryotic cells.
Non photosynthetic means that the cell does not make large and complex materials
(using sunlight as energy). Essentially, non photosynthetic prokaryotic cells do not use sunlight
energy, nor is there a process in which large materials such as glucose are formed. Instead
there are two types of prokaryotic cells and how they obtain energy. Autotrophs create their
own organic food, and heterotrophs consume food that they find in their surroundings.
Prokaryotes do not have mitochondria to make the process faster.
Prokaryotic cells do not have a nucleus, but rather store their information in the
plasmids themselves, nor do they have any other membrane-bound organelles. There is not
endoplasmic reticulum or Golgi apparatus or plasma membrane, meaning that there are also no
processes of endo- or exocyotosis. However, they do consist of a cell wall which too protects
the cell and determines its shape, as does the membrane of a eukaryotic cell. Also, they consist
of ribosomes just like eukaryotic cells do.
Eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells differ a lot in structure, but are somewhat analogous to
one another. Their cell shape and structure and organization is maintained, but in different
ways. In addition, plant and animal cells differ from bacterial cells by size and processes which
help maintain the cells natural being. General eukaryotic cells gain energy through
photosynthesis and the conversion of molecules, whereas non photosynthetic prokaryotic cells
do so by consuming food. They not only differ in the structure’s which allow them to go through
such processes, but also through the functions of the cells.