differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells

Hey Elizabeth, The prokaryotic cells are mainly bacterial cells and the eukaryotic cells are the human cells. Now the main difference between them can is that the prokaryotic cells have a cell wall whereas the eukaryotic cells do not. Another difference can be that the genetic material in the prokaryotic cells is not membrane-bound whereas in the eukaryotic cells they can be membrane-bound( nucleus). The eukaryotes have 80s ribosomes whereas the prokaryotes contain 70s ribosomes. The prokaryotes contain plasmids whereas the eukaryotes do not. There are also other differences but I hope this helps :)

There are several differences betwee the eukaryotic cells and prokaryotic cells as follows:

1. Eukaryotic cells have membrane-bound organelles like mitochondria, nucleus etc. while prokaryotic cell do not have any membrane-bound organelles which means there is no nuclear envelop so no nucleus and no mitochondria etc.
2. Eukaryotic cells may be unicellular or multicellular, for example amoeba which is single-cell organism and mammals including humans which are all multicellular organisms. Prokaryotic cells, on the other hand, are always unicellular, like bacteria.
3. Eukaryotic cells are usually much larger than the prokaryotic cells.
4. Eukaryotic cells have DNA in the form of chromosomes inside the nucleus which contain histone proteins, however, prokaryotic cells have DNA in circular form present in the cytoplasm and it lacks histones as well, and additionally they also have many circular fragments of DNA called plasmids.
5. Eukaryotic DNA has plenty of non-coding DNA but prokaryotic DNA does not have such junk DNA.
6. The ribosomes in eukaryotic cells are large i.e. 80S (composed of 40S and 60S subunits) but in prokaryotic cells ribosomes are smaller i.e. 70S (composed of 30S and 50S subunits).

Nucleus:

Prokaryotic: Lacks a true nucleus; genetic material is in the nucleoid region.

Eukaryotic: Contains a well-defined nucleus where genetic material is enclosed in a membrane.

Membrane-Bound Organelles:

Prokaryotic: Lacks membrane-bound organelles.

Eukaryotic: Contains various membrane-bound organelles like the endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, mitochondria, and more.

Cell Size:

Prokaryotic: Generally smaller in size (1-5 micrometers).

Eukaryotic: Typically larger and more complex (10-100 micrometers).

Cell Division:

Prokaryotic: Reproduces through binary fission.

Eukaryotic: Undergoes mitosis or meiosis for cell division.

Genetic Material:

Prokaryotic: Usually a single, circular DNA molecule.

Eukaryotic: Multiple linear DNA molecules associated with histone proteins.

Ribosomes:

Prokaryotic: Smaller ribosomes (70S).

Eukaryotic: Larger ribosomes (80S).

Cell Wall:

Prokaryotic: May have a rigid cell wall made of peptidoglycan.

Eukaryotic: Plant cells have a cellulose cell wall; animal cells lack a cell wall.

Flagella:

Prokaryotic: Simpler flagella.

Eukaryotic: More complex flagella composed of microtubules.

Reproduction:

Prokaryotic: Asexual reproduction is common.

Eukaryotic: Reproduction can be both asexual and sexual.

Think of eukarytic cells (pronounced you-caryotic) as you cells, they belong to all animals and plants. Procaryotic cells belong to bacteria.

Your cells contain a cell surface membrane, a nucleus, mitochondria, golgi apparatus/body, lysosomes, ribosomes, rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) and smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER) as well as the cytoplasm.

Plants also have a cell wall, chloroplasts and a cell vacuole.

However Prokaryotic cells contain a cell plasma membrane, cytoplasm, they often have a cell wall, a capsule (the slime layer), circular DNA and plasmids as well as flagellum.

The main difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells is that eukaryotic cells have membrane-bound organelles, meaning that their sub cellular components such as the mitochondria, and most importantly the nucleus (where the DNA is kept) are surrounded by an extra layer of protection known as a membrane.

In prokaryotic cells, all sub cellular structures are floating around in the cytoplasm, even the DNA; though the DNA is coiled up and mostly floats in an area of the cell known as the nucleoid.

There are some other major differences, such as prokaryotic are really small in comparison to eukaryotes, their chromosomes are circular and short, where as eukaryotes have linear and longer chromosomes and the type of ribosomes that they have are also different.

Prokaryotic cells lack a true nucleus and membrane-bound organelles, with their DNA free-floating in the cytoplasm. In contrast, eukaryotic cells have a defined nucleus and various membrane-bound organelles for specialized functions.

Eukaryotic cells are cells like animal or plant cells.

prokaryotic cells are cells like bacteria.

The key difference between the two is that Eukaryotic cells contain membrane bound organelles whereas prokaryotic cells do not. They also have variable (different) organelles, for example eukaryotic cells have a nucleus whereas prokaryotic cells do not!

Cells can be categorized into two main groups, eukaryotes and prokaryotes. Eukaryotes include plant and animal cells, fungi, and protists, Prokaryotes include bacteria and archaea. The differences between Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes are as follows:

Nucleus: While eukaryotes all have a nucleus in which DNA is stored and enclosed, prokaryotes do not, all their genetic material is located in an area known as the nucleoid and is not enclosed in a membrane.

Size: Prokaryotes in general are significantly smaller than eukaryotes. Prokaryotes range between 0.1 to 5 micrometers in diameter while eukaryotes range from 10 to 100 micrometres in diameter.

Organelle: Prokaryotes do not contain any membrane-bound organell, whereas eukaryotes contain various membrane-bound organelles, such as mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, and, in plant cells, chloroplasts.

DNA: Prokayotes have less DNA and all contained in a single circular DNA in the nucleoid, whereas in prokaryotes store all DNA in linear/straight strands that bundle together to form chromsomes (humans have 46).

Prokaryotic cells are single celled organisms such as bacteria and viruses. They do not have a nucleus but they contain DNA. Eukaryotic cells are present in multi-cellular organisms such as plants and animals and do contain a nucleus.

Prokaryotic cells have no membrane-bound organelles including a nucleus. The DNA of many prokaryotes can be found in a chromosomal loop of DNA or in plasmids.

Eukraryotic cells have a membrane bound nucleus and organelles whilst prokaryotic cells have free floating DNA with no nucleus

Eukaryotic have nuclues and membrane bound organelles. While prokaryotic do not have any of these.

Prokaryotic cells are simpler, smaller, and lack a nucleus.

Eukaryotic cells are more complex, with a nucleus and specialized organelles.

Both types contain ribosomes, cell membranes, and cytoplasm but differ in structure and complexity.

The main difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells lies in their structure and complexity.

Prokaryotic cells are simpler and smaller than eukaryotic cells (usually 0.1–5 µm in size). They have no nucleus and so their DNA is found in a single circular strand within the cytoplasm. They also have no membrane-bound organelles like mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, or Golgi apparatus. They are unicellular organisms, such as bacteria and archaea, which means that each cell is it's own organism, and they reproduce through binary fission, which is a simple form of cell division.

Eukaryotic cells, on the other hand, are larger and more complex (around 10–100 µm in size). They have a nucleus that contains DNA enclosed in a nuclear membrane. They also contain membrane-bound organelles, such as mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, and Golgi apparatus. They can be unicellular or make up a multicellular organism, such as in plants, animals, or fungi, and they reproduce through mitosis or meiosis, which are more complex processes of cell division.

Prokaryotic are always unicellular, while eukaryotic are usually multi-celled organisms.