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1. Prokaryotic cells are generally smaller than eukaryotic cells and have no mem

ID: 186271 • Letter: 1

Question

1. Prokaryotic cells are generally smaller than eukaryotic cells and have no membrane-bound organelles, which act to transport some materials around the cell and compartmentalize certain cellular processes. Why do prokaryotic cells not require such membrane-bound organelles? 2. Why are Archaea restricted to such harsh and difficult habitats? 3. You are studying an infectious agent, the effects of which resemble a virus. You isolate the agent and treat it with an enzyme that degrades proteins and it is unaffected: However, if treated with RNase, it loses its infectivity. What kind of pathogen is it most likely to be?

Explanation / Answer

Prokaryotic cells do not require such membrane bound organelles as they do not have chromosomal DNA. Neither do the prokaryotes require localised micro environments for performing incompatible metabolic pathways that require to be carried out inside the cell. Hence, membrane bound organelles are not required. Archaebacteria are the bacteria that were identified initially or also referred to as the primitive bacteria. These bacteria used to thrive on environments, in earth, where oxygen was not present. Hence, they cannot thrive in environments having oxygen or in aerobic environments. Most likely, the organism is possibly a viroid.