Physiology and Biochemistry of Prokaryotes

Prokaryotes lack mitochondria, or any other eukaryotic membrane-bound organelles; and it was once thought that prokaryotes lacked cellular compartments, and therefore all cellular components within the cytoplasm were unenclosed, except for an outer cell membrane. But bacterial microcompartments, which are thought to be primitive organelles enclosed in protein shells, have been discovered, along with other prokaryotic organelles. While typically being unicellular, some prokaryotes, such as cyanobacteria, may form large colonies. Others, such as myxobacteria, have multicellular stages in their life cycles. Prokaryotes are asexual, reproducing without fusion of gametes, although horizontal gene transfer also takes place. A prokaryotic cell is a type of cell that does not have a true nucleus or membrane-bound organelles. Organisms within the domains Bacteria and Archaea are based on the prokaryotic cell, while all other forms of life are eukaryotic. However, organisms with prokaryotic cells are very abundant and make up much of Earth’s biomass. Cell Biology and Microbiology are almost simultaneous with each other every time we hear of these two disciplines. Somehow, there is a difference between the two as Cell Biology deals with the Cells in the human body, animals, plants and other living organisms while the Microbiology are for those that deals with microorganisms such as viruses and bacteria. The book also presents microbial metabolism in the context of the chemical and physical problems that cells must solve in order to grow.