Prokaryotic cells were the only form of life on earth for about 2 billion years. Fossils of prokaryotes were found in Western Australia and South Africa and have been dated as being about 3.5 billion years old. The chemical composition of the rock they were found, and nature of the rocks suggests that lithotrophic and fermentative modes of metabolism involved in early prokaryotes. Photosynthesis in prokaryote cells seems to have developed at least 3billionyears ago. The prokaryotic cells first developed Anoxygenic photosynthesis and oxygenic photosynthesis proceeded later. Larger more complicated prokaryote cells did not develop until around1.5 billion years ago.

Prokaryotic cells differ largely from eucaryotic cells because eucaryotic cells contain a membrane-enclosed nucleus and several of other membranous organelles. Prokaryote cells do not develop into multicellular organisms like some plants and animals.

Prokaryotic cells have three regions: appendages in the form of flagella and pili ; a cell envelope consisting of a cell wall and plasma membrane: and a cytoplasmic region that contains DNA and ribosome.

Prokaryotes can be identified many different ways the main is by using a microscope and grouping by cell and shape. Prokaryotes almost always are rod, sphere or spiral shaped. Another way of identifying prokaryotes is to use the Gram-stain reaction; fixed bacterial cells either stain purple meaning positive or pink meaning negative. Motility is a very easy way of determining whether it is prokaryotic or not, you can determine just by observing the cell. Bactil may occur singly or in chains of cells; sporal shape cells are almost always motile.

Flagella are filamentous protein structures attached to the surface that provide swimming movement for most moving prokaryotic cells. Contained within the cell is a motor apparatus that rotates the fillament causing movement for the cell in fluid environments. Prokaryotes are shown to respond to dangers in the environment by moving in response to environmental stimuli.

Prokaryote cells are distinguished from eucaryote cells mainly on the lack of nuclear organization, more specifically a nuclear membrane. But other dissimilarities include a lack of intracellular organelles and structures that are characteristic of eucaryotic cells. The functions of the organelles that a prokaryote cell lack are made up by the prokaryotic plasma membrane.

All the components of the surface of the cell of a prokaryote are extremely important because it mediates the contact of the cell with its environment. The prokaryote must use its surface components to assess the environment to respond in a way in order to insure its survival. Important ways that a pocaryote uses its surface components are (1) as permeability barriers to allow selective passage of nutrients and keep out harmful substances; (2) to attach to specific surfaces and tissues; (3) As enzymes to mediate

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