Prokaryote
Definition
An organism whose cells lack a membrane-bound nucleus and organelles. Bacteria and archaea are prokaryotes. They are relevant to forensic biology in microbiome-based methods and in cases involving bacterial contamination of evidence.
Related terms
- Chromatin
- The complex of nuclear DNA wound around histone proteins in the nucleus. In forensic DNA extraction, chromatin must be disrupted to release...
- Cytoskeleton
- The protein scaffold within eukaryotic cells, composed of actin microfilaments, tubulin microtubules, and intermediate filaments such as keratin. Provides cell shape and...
- Eukaryote
- An organism whose cells contain a membrane-bound nucleus and other membrane-enclosed organelles. Humans, animals, plants, and fungi are eukaryotes. Most biological evidence...
- Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA)
- DNA located in mitochondria rather than the cell nucleus. Present in hundreds to thousands of copies per cell, making it recoverable from...
- Nuclear DNA (nDNA)
- The genomic DNA housed in the cell nucleus, packaged as 46 chromosomes in human somatic cells. The primary target for STR profiling...
Explained in
- Cell Structure and Organelles for Forensic ScientistsAn organism whose cells lack a membrane-bound nucleus and organelles. Bacteria and archaea are prokaryotes. They are relevant to forensic biology in microbiome...