List one of the "characteristics of life” & identify a prokaryotic cell structure that is involved. Describe what that structure does (how / why is this structure important for the characteristic you named?); and name a biological polymer that is a major component of this cell structure.”
One of the major characteristics of life is generation of energy by metabolism of the food material ingested by the cells. This feature is common for all the living cell types, including both prokaryotes and eukaryotes.
Considering prokaryotes, the site of generation of energy is the plasma membrane itself. The prokaryotic plasma membrance contains folds and enzymatic sites attached to them which help in generation of energy. Conversly, the energy-generation site in the eukaryotes is mitochondria.
Since energy-generation in prokaryotes takes place in the plasma membrane, the major biopolymer constituting this structure i.e. plasma membrane is the phospholipid bilayer.
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