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Look at the diagram of a bacterial cell - OCR Gateway - GCSE Biology Combined Science - Question 3 - 2019 - Paper 1
Question 3
Look at the diagram of a bacterial cell. What is the name of the structure labelled X? A) Mitochondrion B) Nucleus C) Plasmid D) Receptor molecule Your answer
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Look at the diagram of a bacterial cell - OCR Gateway - GCSE Biology Combined Science - Question 3 - 2019 - Paper 1
Step 1
What is the name of the structure labelled X?
Answer
The structure labelled X in the diagram of a bacterial cell is called a Plasmid.
Plasmids are small, circular pieces of DNA that are distinct from chromosomal DNA. They often carry genes that provide the bacteria with genetic advantages, such as antibiotic resistance. Unlike the nucleus in eukaryotic cells, which contains the cell's main genetic material, plasmids are independently replicating entities that can be transferred between bacteria, hence playing a crucial role in horizontal gene transfer.