differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells

There are several differences between the two, but main one between them is that eukaryotic cells have a distinct nucleus containing the cells genetic material, while prokaryotic cells don’t have a nucleus and have free floating genetic material instead.

Hi Elizabeth, the difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells is the nucleus. Prokaryotic cells do not contain a nucleus to store the DNA, but eukaryotic cells do contain a nucleus to store the DNA. Hope this helps!

The biggest difference is Eukaryotic cells have 'membrane bound' organelles. That means they have things inside them like the nucleus and the mitochondria which are surrounded by a membrane. This is very useful for compartmentalising the cell (i.e. certain molecules are kept in certain parts of the cell).

Prokaryotic cells have no membrane bound organelles at all, so everything just 'floats' around inside the cell without be segregated at all.

Hope this helps!

Eukaryotic cells consist of having a nucleus, with it’s genetic material, but prokaryotic cells, do not have a nucleus but they have a free floating genetic material

genetic information in eukaryotes is stored in a nucleus in prokaryotes genetic information is not stored. Animal cells are examples of eukaryotic cells. Bacterial cells are example of prokaryotes

Prokaryotic cells are unicellular, which means the whole organism is made up of that one cell. Eukaryotic cells are often multi-cellular, which means many cells make up an organism.

Prokaryotic cells have circular DNA free in the cytoplasm, and they also contain a plasmid ring which also contains DNA

Eukaryotic cells have DNA contained in the nucleus, and organelles which are covered in a membrane.

Prokaryotic cells:

• Unicellular
• Have a circular DNA form
• Have a flagella
• Small, simple cells measuring 0.5um

Eukaryotic cells:

• Multicellular
• Membrane bound organelles
• Have a nucleus
• Have a linear DNA form
• Large and complex, measuring 10-100um

Eukaryotic cells have a nucleus with DNA stored in it whilst prokaryotic don't have a nucleus and their DNA is freely floating inside the cytoplasm.

In cellular biology, prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells are the two basic classes, each with unique structural and functional characteristics. The way genetic material is organised is one of the main differences. Bacteria and archaea are examples of prokaryotic cells, which do not have a nucleus that is membrane-bound. Rather, their genetic material is found in a nucleoid region of the cell, where it is usually a single circular DNA molecule. In sharp contrast, eukaryotic cells have a distinct nucleus that is protected by a nuclear membrane. Within this specialised compartment, eukaryotic cells store their genetic material in many linear chromosomes.

Another obvious area where the two cell types differ is in size. Prokaryotic cells are usually smaller in size, measuring between 0.1 to 5 micrometres on average. On the other hand, eukaryotic cells range in size from 10 to 100 micrometres, making them relatively larger. Because bacterial cells lack the membrane-bound organelles that give eukaryotic cells their larger and more complex structure, it is commonly assumed that prokaryotic cells have a more streamlined structure.

When we take into account the existence of organelles, more differences become evident. Simple in their structure, prokaryotic cells do not have membrane-bound organelles. Even though key structures, such ribosomes, are present, they lack the protective membranes found in cells that are eukaryotic. Eukaryotic cells, on the other hand, have a variety of membrane-bound organelles, each of which performs a specific role. These include the Golgi apparatus, lysosomes, mitochondria, and endoplasmic reticulum, which all contribute to the eukaryotic cells' complexity.

Binary fission is a quick and easy type of asexual reproduction used by prokaryotic bacteria. But eukaryotic cells go through meiosis when they generate gametes and mitosis during somatic cell division, which helps with both sexual and asexual reproduction. Understanding cellular diversity in the biological world is based on these differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, which are characterised by differences in size, shape, organelles, and reproductive mechanisms.

Eukaryotic cells contain their DNA in a nucleus and have membrane bound organelles such as the smooth and rough endoplasmic reticulum, golgi apparatus, and lysosome. However, prokaryotic cells contain their DNA in the form of circular DNA free in the cytoplasm and also have DNA in plasmids, which are circular.

Prokaryotic cells are older, and much smaller than Eukaryotic cells. However, the main difference between these two cells is that Eukaryotic have a membrane bound nucleus, whereas prokaryotic cell's DNA is free floating within the cytoplasm.

The main difference between eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells is that eukaryotic cells contain membrane bound organelles whilst prokaryotes do not. Another main difference is that eukaryotes have their DNA enclosed in a nucleus whilst the DNA of prokaryotes are found free in the cytoplasm and can sometimes be found in the form of plasmids.

Prokaryotes are unicellular organisms that lack membrane-bound structures, the most noteworthy of which is the nucleus. Prokaryotic cells tend to be small, simple cells, measuring around 0.1-5 μm in diameter.  

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.

Eukaryotic - a nucleus

Prokaryotic - a free-floating strand of DNA

Eukaryotic - large ribosomes

Prokaryotic - smaller ribosomes

Prokaryotic - no mitochondria

Eukaryotic - mitochondria