differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells

Prokaryotic cells don't have membrane-bound organelles (e.g. nucleoid instead of nucleus). Prokaryotic organisms are usually unicellular.

Eukaryotic cells have membrane-bound organelles. Eukaryotic organisms are usually multicellular.

The main structural differences between eukaryotic cells and prokaryotic cells are in their DNA and nucleus. Eukaryotes contain a true nucleus as all DNA is membrane bound and compacted tightly into in the nucleus, whereas prokaryotes have free flowing DNA (often referred to as circular DNA) which is just a loop of DNA that can move around the cytoplasm of the cell as it is not bound to a nucleus. In addition, eukaryotes are considerably larger than prokaryotes, they also contain larger ribosomes of 80s in size (s - a unit to measure size) compared to that of 70s in prokaryotes.

The difference between a prokaryotic cell and an eukaryotic cell is that eukaryotic cells have housed DNA in sub-cellular structures such as a nucleus, a prokaryotic cell has 'free' DNA in the form of plasmids or circular DNA.

There are also a few subcellular structural additions to both types of cells.

Prokaryotic do not contain membrane-bound organelles, such as the nucleus, while eukaryotic cells do. Differences in cellular structure include the presence of mitochondria, chloroplasts, the cell wall, and chromosomal DNA organelles. Prokaryotic cells preceded by millions of years eukaryotic cells which came into being through the process of evolution.

Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic cells are very important to understand. They differ in a number of ways. The major one is that while prokaryotic cells are only unicellular, eukaryotic can be unicellular or multicellular. Prokaryotic cells are characterised by their lack of a cell membrane and a nucleus, both of which are present in eukaryotes. They are believed to have developed before eukaryotes came into the picture in the history of cells.

Eukaryotic organisms include plants, animals, protists and fungi.

prokaryotic organisms include bacteria. They are much more smaller and simpler than eukaryotes as they don’t have a nucleus. Their DNA is a singular loop floating in the cytoplasm and can also be in the form of plasmids (circular rings of DNA). Eukaryotes DNA is linear chromosomes wrapped around in histone proteins and often found enclosed in a nucleus. Prokaryotes also have 70S ribosomes while eukaryotes have 80S ribosomes. Eukaryotes have membrane bound organelles such as mitochondria and chloroplasts but prokaryotes don’t.

The main difference between eukaryotic cells and prokaryotic cells is that the EUK cells are cells containing membrane-bound organelles and are the basis for both unicellular and multicellular organisms. In contrast, prokaryotic cells do not have any membrane-bound organelles and are always part of unicellular organisms.

Prokaryotic cells are simpler and lack a nucleus, while eukaryotic cells have a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles. Prokaryotes reproduce through binary fission, while eukaryotes undergo mitosis. Prokaryotes are primarily unicellular, while eukaryotes can be unicellular or part of multicellular organisms. Prokaryotes are considered ancient, and eukaryotes evolved from prokaryotic ancestors through endosymbiosis.

Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells are two types of cells that differ in their structure, organization, and complexity. Here are the key differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells:

1. Size and Complexity: Prokaryotic cells are generally smaller and simpler compared to eukaryotic cells, which are larger and more complex.
2. Nucleus: Prokaryotic cells lack a true nucleus, while eukaryotic cells have a well-defined nucleus that houses the genetic material (DNA).
3. Genetic Material: In prokaryotic cells, the genetic material is usually a single, circular DNA molecule present in the cytoplasm. Eukaryotic cells have multiple linear DNA molecules packaged into chromosomes within the nucleus.
4. Membrane-Bound Organelles: Prokaryotic cells lack membrane-bound organelles, such as mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, and Golgi apparatus. In contrast, eukaryotic cells contain various membrane-bound organelles that carry out specific functions.
5. Cell Division: Prokaryotic cells divide by binary fission, a simple form of cell division. Eukaryotic cells undergo mitosis (for growth and tissue repair) and meiosis (for sexual reproduction).
6. Complexity of Reproduction: Prokaryotes reproduce asexually, while eukaryotes reproduce both asexually and sexually, allowing for genetic variation.
7. Organelles and Structures: Eukaryotic cells possess membrane-bound organelles like mitochondria, chloroplasts (in plants), and a well-developed endomembrane system. Prokaryotes lack these structures.
8. Cell Wall Composition: Prokaryotic cells have cell walls made of peptidoglycan, while eukaryotic cells have cell walls (in some cases) made of cellulose (plants) or chitin (fungi).

Eukaryotic cells can be both unicellular or multicellular but Prokaryotics are always unicellular. they both have some similar features like a plasma membrane, ribosomes and a cytoplasm but eukaryotics have MEMBRANE BOUND organelles that prokaryotics don't!

examples of Membrane bound organelles are: Mitochondria, golgi apparatus,...

The short answer is that prokaryotic cells are single cells organisms, usually small and simple organisms e.g. bacteria. Eukaryotic cells are complex and include all animal and plant cells, as well as algae and fungi.

The longer answer will be regarding the structural differences between prokaryotic cells and eukaryotic cells. Namely, prokaryotic cells typically have a cell wall, made of the glycoprotein murein. The cytoplasm of a prokaryotic cell has no membrane-bound organelles (unlike a eukaryotic cell). They have flagella, which are long, hair-like structures that rotate to make the prokaryotic cell move. Not every prokaryotic cell have a flagellum. Prokaryotic cells do not contain a nucleus, rather their DNA floats free. These are just some of the differences.

There are a variety of differences Prokaryotic (P) cells tend to be more smaller and less complex whereas Eukaryotic (E) cells tend to be larger and far more complex. P reproduces asexually in a process called binary fission whilst E can reproduce both asexually and sexually. P cells don't have membrane-bound organelles whereas E cells consist of these types of organelles. DNA in P cells has free-floating DNA in which DNA is floating in the cytoplasm of the cell, whereas in eukaryotes the DNA is all contained in the organelle the nucleus.

Eukaryotic cells have membrane bound organelles where as, prokaryotic cells do not.

• prokaryotic cells are smaller than eukaryotic cells
• prokaryotic DNA not membrane bound (enclosed in a nucleus) whereas eukaryotic cell DNA is
• prokaryotic cells do not contain mitochondria whereas eukaryotic cells do

The main difference between a Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic cell, by looking at it, is the Prokaryotic cell DOES NOT have a nucleus, instead the Prokaryotic cell's DNA floats freely.

To remember which type of cell is which, I always think the easiest way to remember is by looking at the start of the names. So, PROkaryotic is like PRObiotic which means it is a bacterial cell. Whereas EUkaryotic is like YOU and you have animal cells. So eukaryotic cells are plant and animal cells.