differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells

Prokaryotic cells are smaller, simpler cells without a nucleus or membrane-bound organelles, and they typically reproduce through binary fission. Eukaryotic cells are larger, more complex, contain a nucleus, and have membrane-bound organelles like mitochondria and the Golgi apparatus. Examples of prokaryotes include bacteria, while eukaryotes include plants, animals, fungi, and protists.

Eukaryotes have: nucleus, membrane bound organelles, most are multicellular and larger than 10-100 um

Prokaryotes: do not have nucleus, not many membrane bound organelles, they are unicellular and smaller so between 0.1-5 um- remember pro is no!

In simple terms, prokaryotic cells are simple cells that don't have a nucleus or other membrane bound organelles and eukaryotes are complex cells

Hi Elizabeth!

The main difference between prokaryotes and eukaryotes is how they store their DNA. Whilst eukaryotes contain this within a nucleus, prokaryotes contain a free-floating loop of DNA with plasmids. Prokaryotes are also usually single-celled (bacteria etc.), whilst eukaryotes make up multicellular organisms.

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.

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.

Nucleus:

• Prokaryotic cells: Lack a true nucleus. Instead, their genetic material is typically found in a region called the nucleoid, which is not enclosed by a membrane.
• Eukaryotic cells: Have a well-defined nucleus enclosed within a double membrane, which contains the cell's genetic material in the form of chromosomes.

Membrane-bound Organelles:

• Prokaryotic cells: Generally lack membrane-bound organelles. They may have some internal structures like ribosomes, but these are not enclosed by membranes.
• Eukaryotic cells: Contain membrane-bound organelles such as mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, lysosomes, and chloroplasts (in plant cells). These organelles perform specialized functions within the cell.

Size:

• Prokaryotic cells: Typically smaller and simpler in structure compared to eukaryotic cells.
• Eukaryotic cells: Generally larger and more complex in structure due to the presence of membrane-bound organelles and a well-defined nucleus.

Cell Wall:

• Prokaryotic cells: Most prokaryotic cells have a cell wall, which provides structural support and protection. The composition of the cell wall varies among different types of prokaryotes (e.g., bacteria have a peptidoglycan cell wall).
• Eukaryotic cells: Some eukaryotic cells, such as plant cells and fungal cells, have a cell wall composed of materials like cellulose or chitin. Animal cells do not have a cell wall.

Reproduction:

• Prokaryotic cells: Reproduce primarily through binary fission, a process in which the cell divides into two identical daughter cells.
• Eukaryotic cells: Reproduce through mitosis (for somatic cells) or meiosis (for reproductive cells), processes that involve the division and distribution of chromosomes to daughter cells.

Genetic Material:

• Prokaryotic cells: Typically have a single circular chromosome composed of DNA. They may also contain small, circular pieces of DNA called plasmids.
• Eukaryotic cells: Have multiple linear chromosomes composed of DNA, which are located within the nucleus. Eukaryotic cells may also contain extranuclear DNA in organelles such as mitochondria and chloroplasts.

Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells are the two primary types of cells that make up all living organisms. They differ in several key structural and functional aspects:

1. Nucleus:

• Prokaryotic Cells: Lack a true nucleus. Their genetic material (DNA) is not enclosed within a membrane but is instead found in a region called the nucleoid.
• Eukaryotic Cells: Have a well-defined, membrane-bound nucleus where the genetic material is stored.

2. Size:

• Prokaryotic Cells: Generally smaller, usually around 0.1 to 5 micrometers in diameter.
• Eukaryotic Cells: Typically larger, ranging from 10 to 100 micrometers in diameter.

3. Organelles:

• Prokaryotic Cells: Lack membrane-bound organelles. However, they do contain ribosomes, which are not membrane-bound.
• Eukaryotic Cells: Contain a variety of membrane-bound organelles, such as mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, lysosomes, and chloroplasts (in plant cells).

4. DNA Structure:

• Prokaryotic Cells: Have a single, circular chromosome. The DNA is usually not associated with histones.
• Eukaryotic Cells: Have multiple, linear chromosomes. The DNA is associated with histone proteins and organized into chromatin.

5. Cell Division:

• Prokaryotic Cells: Divide by binary fission, a simple process that does not involve mitosis.
• Eukaryotic Cells: Divide by mitosis (for somatic cells) and meiosis (for reproductive cells), which are more complex processes involving multiple stages.

6. Ribosomes:

• Prokaryotic Cells: Contain smaller ribosomes (70S).
• Eukaryotic Cells: Contain larger ribosomes (80S) in the cytoplasm and smaller ribosomes (70S) in organelles like mitochondria and chloroplasts.

7. Cell Wall:

• Prokaryotic Cells: Most have a cell wall composed of peptidoglycan (in bacteria) or other substances like pseudomurein (in archaea).
• Eukaryotic Cells: Plant cells have a cell wall made of cellulose; fungal cells have cell walls made of chitin. Animal cells do not have a cell wall.

8. Flagella:

• Prokaryotic Cells: If present, the flagella are simple, composed of a protein called flagellin, and rotate to propel the cell.
• Eukaryotic Cells: Flagella are more complex, composed of microtubules arranged in a "9+2" structure, and move in a whip-like manner.

9. Metabolism:

• Prokaryotic Cells: Can have a wide variety of metabolic pathways and may be aerobic or anaerobic.
• Eukaryotic Cells: Generally have more compartmentalized metabolic processes, with specific pathways occurring in distinct organelles (e.g., cellular respiration in mitochondria).

10. Examples:

• Prokaryotic Cells: Include bacteria and archaea.
• Eukaryotic Cells: Include animals, plants, fungi, and protists.

Eukaryotic cells have a nucleus, eg animal/plant/fungi cells. Prokaryotic cells do not have a nucleus eg bacteria. Their genetic information lies in the cytoplasm rather than in a nucleus.

Eukaryotic - a nucleus

Prokaryotic - a free-floating strand of DNA

Eukaryotic - large ribosomes

Prokaryotic - smaller ribosomes

Prokaryotic - no mitochondria

Eukaryotic - mitochondria

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 and eukaryotic cells are the two primary types of cells, differing fundamentally in their structure and complexity. Here are the key differences between them:

1. Nucleus:

• Prokaryotic cells lack a true nucleus. Their genetic material is not enclosed within a nuclear membrane; instead, it is located in a region called the nucleoid.
• Eukaryotic cells have a well-defined nucleus, where the cell’s DNA is enclosed within a nuclear envelope.

1. Cell Size:

• Prokaryotic cells are generally smaller, typically between 0.1 to 5 micrometers in diameter.
• Eukaryotic cells are larger, usually between 10 to 100 micrometers in diameter.

1. Cell Complexity:

• Prokaryotic cells are simpler in structure, with fewer types of organelles.
• Eukaryotic cells are more complex, containing a variety of organelles such as mitochondria, the endoplasmic reticulum, and the Golgi apparatus.

1. Cell Wall:

• Many prokaryotes have a rigid cell wall composed of peptidoglycan (in bacteria) or other substances.
• Eukaryotic cells may or may not have a cell wall. If present, the cell wall is usually made of cellulose (in plants) or chitin (in fungi).

1. Ribosomes:

• Prokaryotic cells contain 70S ribosomes, which are smaller.
• Eukaryotic cells contain 80S ribosomes, which are larger.

1. DNA Structure:

• Prokaryotic DNA is typically circular and not associated with histone proteins.
• Eukaryotic DNA is linear and closely associated with histones to form chromatin and chromosomes.

1. Reproduction:

• Prokaryotes reproduce asexually through processes such as binary fission.
• Eukaryotes can reproduce both sexually and asexually, with mechanisms including mitosis and meiosis.

1. Organelles:

• Prokaryotic cells lack membrane-bound organelles.
• Eukaryotic cells have multiple membrane-bound organelles, such as mitochondria, chloroplasts (in plants), the endoplasmic reticulum, and the Golgi apparatus.

1. Cytoplasmic Division:

• Prokaryotic cells often divide by binary fission, where the cell simply splits into two.
• Eukaryotic cells divide by mitosis or meiosis, involving complex processes of chromosomal alignment and separation.

1. Genetic Recombination:

• Prokaryotic genetic recombination occurs through processes such as transformation, transduction, and conjugation.
• Eukaryotic genetic recombination primarily occurs during meiosis.

These differences reflect the evolutionary distance between prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms, with eukaryotic cells representing a more complex and compartmentalized cellular organization.

Key differences between prokaryotic cells and eukaryotic cells are:

The cells are much smaller.

No membrane bound-organelles

Smaller ribosomes

No nucleus

A cell wall made of murein

Prokaryotic cells have:

• no nucleus
• no membrane-bound organelles

Whereas eukaryotic cells have:

• A nucleus
• membrane-bound organelles

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

Prokaryotic cells are smaller and simpler, lacking a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles, with their DNA floating freely in a loop. Eukaryotic cells are larger and more complex, containing a nucleus that holds their organized DNA and various organelles like mitochondria. Prokaryotes reproduce by binary fission, while eukaryotes use mitosis or meiosis. Prokaryotes are found in bacteria and archaea, while eukaryotes make up plants, animals, fungi, and protists.