a.

What are the similarities and differences of Prokaryotic cell and

Eukaryotic cell?
Similarities:
1. They both have DNA as their genetic material.
2. They are both membrane bound.
3. They both have ribosomes.
4. They have similar basic metabolism.
5. They are both amazingly diverse in forms.
6. The DNA of prokaryotes floats freely around the cell; the DNA of eukaryotes is
held within its nucleus and associated with histones (proteins)
7. Eukaryotes undergo mitosis; prokaryotes divide by binary fission (simple cell
division)
Differences:
1. Eukaryotes have a nucleus, while prokaryotes do not
2. Eukaryotes have membrane-bound organelles, while prokaryotes do not. The
organelles of eukaryotes allow them to exhibit much higher levels of intracellular
division of labor than is possible in prokaryotic cells.
3. Eukaryotic cells are, on average, ten times the size of prokaryotic cells.
4. The DNA of eukaryotes is much more complex and therefore much more
extensive than the DNA of prokaryotes.
5. Prokaryotes have a cell wall composed of peptidoglycan, a single large polymer of
amino acids and sugar. Many types of eukaryotic cells also have cell walls, but none
made of peptidoglycan.
6. The DNA of prokaryotes floats freely around the cell; the DNA of eukaryotes is
held within its nucleus and associated with histones (proteins)
7. Eukaryotes undergo mitosis; prokaryotes divide by binary fission (simple cell
division)

b. What are the similarities and differences of Animal cell and Plant cell?
Similarities:
Structurally, plant and animal cells are very similar because they are both
eukaryotic cells. They both contain membrane-bound organelles such as the
nucleus, mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, golgi apparatus, lysosomes, and
peroxisomes. Both also contain similar membranes, cytosol, and cytoskeletal
elements. The functions of these organelles are extremely similar between the two
classes of cells (peroxisomes perform additional complex functions in plant cells
having to do with cellular respiration).
Differences:
Plant cells can be larger than animal cells. The normal range for an animal cell
varies from 10 to 30 micrometers while that for a plant cell stretches from 10 to 100
micrometers. Beyond size, the main structural differences between plant and animal
cells lie in a few additional structures found in plant cells. These structures include:
chloroplasts, the cell wall, and vacuoles.
c. What are the different cellular or biological transports that are
happening within the cell?
* Passive transport
Passive transport is the cellular process of moving molecules and other substances
across membranes.
Passive transport differs from active transport in that it does not involve any
chemical energy. Rather, passive transport relies on the innate permeability of the
cell membrane and its component proteins and lipids.
* Diffusion
Diffusion is the overall movement of material from an area of higher concentration
to an area of lower concentration.
The difference in concentration between the two areas is called the concentration
gradient; diffusion tends to continue until the concentration gradient is gone.
Once this happens, material still tends to move between the areas but with no net
gain for one side or the other.
In the human body, waste products are removed from the bloodstream in the
kidneys via dialysis, an example of diffusion.
* Facilitated Diffusion

Facilitated diffusion is the carrier-mediated transport of large molecules through the

cell membrane using transport proteins embedded within the cell membrane.These
molecules would otherwise not be able to breach the cell membrane, but the
transport proteins effectively transport them through.
This process is still diffusion, however, so the concept of the molecules moving from
a higher concentration (outside the cell) to a lower concentration (inside the cell)
without utilizing any chemical energy still applies.
The exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the alveoli of the lungs is an example
of facilitated diffusion.
* Osmosis
In biological terms, osmosis is the diffusion of water though a membrane to a region
with a lower concentration of water.
* Filtration
Filtration is the movement of solute molecules and water across a membrane by
normal cardiovascular pressure. The size of the membrane pores dictate the
molecules that may pass.
Some functions of the liver and kidneys are based upon filtration
Sources:
http://www.college-cram.com/study/biology/cell-membranes/passive-transport/
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/similarities-between-plant-and-animal-cells.html
http://www.sparknotes.com/biology/cellstructure/celldifferences/section1.rhtml
http://www.invive.com/cells.html