Differences between bacterial and human cells
Cell structure
Bacterial cells are much smaller and simpler than human cells. They lack a nucleus and other organelles such as mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum, which are present in human cells. Bacterial cells have a cell wall made of a peptidoglycan layer, which is absent in human cells.
Replication and reproduction
Bacterial cells reproduce by binary fission, in which one cell divides into two identical daughter cells. Human cells, on the other hand, undergo mitosis, a complex process involving a series of steps and checkpoints to ensure accurate replication of DNA.
Metabolism
Bacterial cells are capable of a wide range of metabolic activities such as photosynthesis, chemosynthesis, and fermentation. Human cells rely on the mitochondria to produce energy through aerobic respiration.
Genetic material
Bacterial cells have a single circular chromosome made of DNA, while human cells have 23 pairs of chromosomes. Bacterial cells also have plasmids, which are small, circular pieces of DNA that can be easily transferred between cells. In contrast, human cells do not have plasmids.
Immune system response
Due to the differences in cell structure and genetic material, bacterial cells are recognized as foreign by the human immune system and are targeted for destruction. Human cells, however, are not recognized as foreign and are not attacked by the immune system.
In summary, bacterial cells are much simpler in structure and function compared to human cells. These differences in cell structure, metabolism, genetic material, and immune system response are what distinguish bacterial cells from human cells.