Bacterial cell components and how they differ from human cells

For each of the following cellular components of bacteria, please choose the best answer about whether human cells have them: Cell Wall

• Human cells also have this

• Human cells do not have this.

• Human cells have this, but it differs significantly from the bacteria version.

Answer explanation

Human cells do not have a cell wall. Unlike bacteria, which have a rigid cell wall made of peptidoglycan, human cells have a flexible plasma membrane without a cell wall structure.

For each of the following cellular components of bacteria, please choose the best answer about whether human cells have them: Flagella

• Human cells also have this

• Human cells do not have this.

• Human cells have this, but it differs significantly from the bacteria version.

Answer explanation

Human cells have flagella, but they are structurally and functionally different from bacterial flagella. In humans, flagella are primarily found in sperm cells and are composed of a different arrangement of microtubules.

For each of the following cellular components of bacteria, please choose the best answer about whether human cells have them: Pili

• Human cells also have this

• Human cells do not have this.

• Human cells have this, but it differs significantly from the bacteria version.

Answer explanation

Pili are hair-like structures found on bacteria that help with attachment and conjugation. Human cells do not have pili, as they possess different mechanisms for adhesion and communication.

For each of the following cellular components of bacteria, please choose the best answer about whether human cells have them: Plasma Membrane

• Human cells also have this

• Human cells do not have this.

• Human cells have this, but it differs significantly from the bacteria version.

Answer explanation

Human cells have a plasma membrane, but it differs from that of bacteria in composition and function. While both serve as barriers, human plasma membranes contain cholesterol and various proteins that are not present in bacterial membranes.

For each of the following cellular components of bacteria, please choose the best answer about whether human cells have them: Plasmid

• Human cells also have this

• Human cells do not have this.

• Human cells have this, but it differs significantly from the bacteria version.

Answer explanation

Human cells do not have plasmids. Plasmids are small, circular DNA molecules found in bacteria that can replicate independently, whereas human cells have linear chromosomes and do not possess plasmids.

For each of the following cellular components of bacteria, please choose the best answer about whether human cells have them: Ribosome

• Human cells also have this

• Human cells do not have this.

• Human cells have this, but it differs significantly from the bacteria version.

Answer explanation

Human cells have ribosomes, but they differ significantly from bacterial ribosomes in size and structure. Bacterial ribosomes are 70S, while human ribosomes are 80S, reflecting their evolutionary divergence.

For each of the following cellular components of bacteria, please choose the best answer about whether human cells have them: Capsule

• Human cells also have this

• Human cells do not have this.

• Human cells have this, but it differs significantly from the bacteria version.

Answer explanation

Human cells do not have a capsule. Capsules are protective layers found in many bacteria, helping them evade the immune system, but human cells lack this structure.

For each of the following cellular components of bacteria, please choose the best answer about whether human cells have them: DNA

• Human cells also have this

• Human cells do not have this.

• Human cells have this, but it differs significantly from the bacteria version.

Answer explanation

Human cells contain DNA, but it differs from bacterial DNA in structure and organization. Bacterial DNA is typically circular and located in the cytoplasm, while human DNA is linear and organized into chromosomes within the nucleus.

For each of the following cellular components of bacteria, please choose the best answer about whether human cells have them: Cytoplasm

• Human cells also have this

• Human cells do not have this.

• Human cells have this, but it differs significantly from the bacteria version.

Answer explanation

Human cells contain cytoplasm, but it differs from bacterial cytoplasm in composition and function. In human cells, cytoplasm includes organelles and a more complex structure compared to the simpler bacterial version.