How does a bacterial cell differ from a plant or animal cell?
It is much larger.
It has no cytoplasm.
It does not have organelles.
It does not have a nucleus.
A bacterial cell differs from a plant or animal cell in several ways:
1. Size: Bacterial cells are generally much smaller in size compared to plant and animal cells.
2. Cytoplasm: Bacterial cells do have cytoplasm, a gel-like substance that fills the cell and contains various molecules and cellular structures.
3. Organelles: Bacterial cells have fewer organelles compared to plant and animal cells. They lack membrane-bound organelles such as mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, and chloroplasts.
4. Nucleus: Unlike plant and animal cells which have a well-defined nucleus, bacterial cells lack a nucleus. Instead, their genetic material (DNA) is present in a region called the nucleoid, which is not enclosed by a nuclear membrane.
In addition to these key differences, bacterial cells may also possess features such as a rigid cell wall, flagella for movement, pili for attachment, and plasmids which are small, circular DNA molecules. Plant and animal cells generally do not have these specific features.