CELL STRUCTURE
Bacteria are prokaryotes. The genetic material in their cells is not contained in a nucleus. Most bacterial cells are surrounded by a rigid cell wall that protects the cell. Just inside the cell wall is the cell membrane, which controls what materials pass into and out of the cell. The region inside the cell membrane, called the cytoplasm (SY toh plaz um ), contains a gel-like material. Located in the cytoplasm are tiny structures called ribosomes
( RY buh sohmz ), chemical factories where proteins are produced. The cells genetic material which looks like a tangled string, is also found in the cytoplasm. If you could untangle the genetic material, you would see that it forms a circular shape. The genetic material contains the instructions for all of the cell's functions. A bacterial cell may also have a flagellum ( fluh jel um ) (plural flagella), a long, whip-like structure that helps a cell to move. It helps the cell move by spinning in place like a propeller. A bacterial cell can have many flagella, one, or none. Cells without any flagella usually cannot move on their own.
To test your knowledge on how well you know about a bacterium cell, play a little game, Click here!
( RY buh sohmz ), chemical factories where proteins are produced. The cells genetic material which looks like a tangled string, is also found in the cytoplasm. If you could untangle the genetic material, you would see that it forms a circular shape. The genetic material contains the instructions for all of the cell's functions. A bacterial cell may also have a flagellum ( fluh jel um ) (plural flagella), a long, whip-like structure that helps a cell to move. It helps the cell move by spinning in place like a propeller. A bacterial cell can have many flagella, one, or none. Cells without any flagella usually cannot move on their own.
To test your knowledge on how well you know about a bacterium cell, play a little game, Click here!