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The Domains of Life

The document summarizes the three domains of life - prokaryotes, eukaryotes, and archaea. Prokaryotes are unicellular organisms that lack membrane-bound organelles, while eukaryotes are multicellular organisms with membrane-bound organelles that compartmentalize cellular processes. Archaea are the oldest life forms that can derive energy from inorganic sources like sulfur and methane and exist in extreme environments.

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21 views23 pages

The Domains of Life

The document summarizes the three domains of life - prokaryotes, eukaryotes, and archaea. Prokaryotes are unicellular organisms that lack membrane-bound organelles, while eukaryotes are multicellular organisms with membrane-bound organelles that compartmentalize cellular processes. Archaea are the oldest life forms that can derive energy from inorganic sources like sulfur and methane and exist in extreme environments.

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المجهول 77
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Week 1: The Domains of

Life
felicity.lumb@strath.ac.uk
Intended Learning Outcomes
The intended learning outcomes for this week are:
• Describe the ultrastructure of prokaryotes and eukaryotes
• Understand the structure and function of the plasma membrane
• Understand and describe the different mechanisms of transport across a
membrane
What is Life?
“Organic beings which have distinct processes which adapt and
respond to outside stimuli”

“Carbon-based entities which have the prospect of birth, life, and


death.”

Consider what you think Life is.


The Branches of Life

Phylogenic tree representing the major species of each domain of life


The Branches of Life

• Prokaryotes (bacteria) – Pro meaning before and kary meaning


nucleus

• Eukaryotes – Eu meaning true

• Archaea – derived from Greek work archaios meaning ancient


The discovery of cells
• 1665 Robert Hooke

• Designed a compound light


microscope and discovered the
‘cell’

• He examined cork (the bark of a


tree) and found it was made up of
hundreds of small boxes. He called
these “cells”
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/history/hooke.html
Cell Theory
• Cells form the building blocks of all living organisms

• Cells arise only through division of existing cells

• Cells contain inherited information that is used to control their


activities

• The cell is the functioning unit of life - metabolism takes place in


cells

• Cells are capable of independent life (in the correct conditions)


The cell
There are a few key components all cells (prokaryote or eukaryote)
need in order to be classified as cells:

Cytoplasm – consists of a jelly-like cytosol inside the cell. It is rich in


soluble molecules, enzymes, and cytoskeletal structures.

DNA – the genetic material

Plasma membrane – the outer covering of the cell separating the


cytosol from the environment

Ribosomes – molecular machines that synthesize proteins. They are


units which translate mRNA to proteins through tRNA mediation.
Prokaryotes
• Prokaryotes are unicellular organisms that lack intracellular
membrane bound organelles.

• They facilitate all of their processes within the cystol.

• Therefore, they are less organised and rely on chance


interaction to complete processes (though, this is a very reliable
method within the cell environment).

• They have a high reproduction rate, rapidly mutate, and can


genetically recombine.
Prokaryotes
Prokaryotes

• Cell Wall – A cell wall is a rigid polysaccharide layer on the outer


portion of a bacteria, algae, or plant cell. Cellulose is
incorporated into algae and plant cell cell walls.

• Nucleoid – A nucleoid is a double stranded piece of DNA. It can


exist as a relaxed circular band or as a supercoiled circular band.

• Respiratory enzymes – Respiratory enzymes are enzymes which


catalyse reactions to facilitate electron transfer.
Prokaryotes
• Capsule – The capsule is a layer of polysaccharide found on the
outermost layer of some bacterial cells. It can also contain
peptidoglycans.

• Food Reserve – These are small vesicles which contain


substrates for energy production.

• Slime layer – an outer layer of unorganised extracellular matrix


which provides protection from the environment or antibiotics.

• Photosynthetic membrane – These facilitate photosynthesis in


prokaryotic cells.
Prokaryotes

• Mesosome – Increases the surface area of the plasma


membrane in prokaryotes to make respiration more efficient.

• Pili/Fimbrae – Small protrusions protruding from the cystol to


the environment which aid in movement (of itself or the
environment) and cell adhesion.

• Plasmid – Small band of DNA which can be used to synthesise


protein or control gene expression of the larger nucleoid.
Prokaryotes

• Gas Vacuole – A gas vacuole contains a quantity of gas which


can be used to regulate buoyancy or facilitate some respiratory
pathways.

• Flagellum – A locomotor protein comprised of three units: the


basal body, the hook, and the filament.
Prokaryotes
Eukaryotes
• Eukaryotes differ from prokaryotes in that they have
membrane-bound intracellular organelles.

• They have a higher level of organisation as a result.

• All eukaryotes have DNA as their coding nucleic acid.


Eukaryotes
Eukaryotes

• Mitochondrion (s)/ Mitochondria (pl) – These are double


membrane bound organelles which facilitate cellular
respiration.

• Nucleolus – Constitutes 25% of the nucleus and is responsible


for creation of rRNA. It is comprised of protein and RNA.

• Nucleus – Responsible for the storage of DNA and cellular


control.
Eukaryotes
• Centrioles - Groups of nine short microtubules which are
necessary for cell division.

• Microtubules – Form of cytoskeletal proteins which are used for


intracellular movement of proteins, and for cell division.

• Endoplasmic reticulum – The ER creates a high surface area of


sacs called cisternae which are continuous with the outer
nuclear membrane. It is used to manufacture and package
proteins.
Eukaryotes

• Golgi apparatus – A group of membrane bound organelles


which are used to package newly formed proteins for excretion
from the cell to the extracellular matrix.

• Pinocytotic vesicles – Membranes which contain fluid from the


extracellular matrix which are used as substrates for
intracellular processes.
Eukaryotes
Archaea
• The Archaea are the oldest forms of life in biology. They have
been present from the origins of life itself.

• They have been discovered in the most extreme environments


on earth – hot springs, acidic soil - and are also abundant in
plankton in the sea

• All archaea are prokaryotes, and have very complex RNA


polymerase complexes compared to bacteria.

• Archaea can derive energy from inorganic sources such as


sulphur, nitrogen and methane.
Summary

• There are three main domains of life – prokaryotes, eukaryotes


and archaea

• Prokaryotes are single-celled organisms (unicellular) that lack


membrane-bound organelles

• Eukaryotes are multicellular organisms. Their cells contain


membrane-bound organelles that compartmentalize processes
within the cell

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