Eukaryotic Cell vs. Prokaryotic Cell

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The distinction between prokaryotes and eukaryotes is considered to be

the most important distinction among groups of organisms. Eukaryotic cells

contain membrane-bound organelles, such as the nucleus, while prokaryotic

cells do not. Differences in cellular structure of prokaryotes and eukaryotes

include the presence of mitochondria and chloroplasts, the cell wall, and the

structure of chromosomal DNA.

Prokaryotes were the only form of life on Earth for millions of years until

more complicated eukaryotic cells came into being through the process of

evolution.

Comparison chart

Differences — Similarities —

Eukaryotic Cell Prokaryotic Cell

Nucleus Present Absent

Number of

chromosomes

More than one One--but not true chromosome:

Plasmids

Cell Type

Usually multicellular Usually unicellular (some

cyanobacteria may be

multicellular)

True Membrane

bound Nucleus

Present Absent

Example Animals and Plants Bacteria and Archaea

Genetic

Recombination

Meiosis and fusion of gametes Partial, undirectional transfers

DNA

Lysosomes and

peroxisomes

Present Absent

Microtubules Present Absent or rare

Endoplasmic

reticulum

Present Absent

Mitochondria Present Absent

Cytoskeleton Present May be absent

Eukaryotes wrap their DNA Multiple proteins act together to

DNA wrapping

on proteins.

around proteins called histones. fold and condense prokaryotic

DNA. Folded DNA is then

organized into a variety of

conformations that are

supercoiled and wound around

tetramers of the HU protein.

Ribosomes larger smaller

Vesicles Present Present

Golgi apparatus Present Absent

ChloroplastsPresent (in plants) Absent; chlorophyll scattered in

the cytoplasm

Flagella

Microscopic in size; membrane

bound; usually arranged as nine

doublets surrounding two singlets

Submicroscopic in size, composed

of only one fiber

Permeability of

Nuclear

Membrane

Selective not present

Plasma

membrane with

steroid

Yes Usually no

Cell wallOnly in plant cells and fungi

(chemically simpler)

Usually chemically complexed

Vacuoles Present Present

Cell size 10-100um 1-10um

Definition of eukaryotes and prokaryotes

Prokaryotes (pro-KAR-ee-ot-es) (from Old Greek pro- before + karyon nut or

kernel, referring to the cell nucleus, + suffix -otos, pl. -otes; also spelled

"procaryotes") are organisms without a cell nucleus (= karyon), or any other

membrane-bound organelles. Most are unicellular, but some prokaryotes are

multicellular.

Eukaryotes (IPA: [juːˈkæɹɪɒt]) are organisms whose cells are organized into

complex structures by internal membranes and a cytoskeleton. The most

characteristic membrane bound structure is the nucleus. This feature gives them

their name, (also spelled "eucaryote,") which comes from the Greek ευ, meaning

good/true, and κάρυον, meaning nut, referring to the nucleus. Animals, plants,

fungi, and protists are eukaryotes.

Differences between eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells

The difference between the structure of prokaryotes and eukaryotes is so great

that it is considered to be the most important distinction among groups of

organisms.

Up next

Plant cells vs. Animal cells

x

Structure and contents of a

typical Gram positive bacterial cell

(a prokaryotic cell)

The most fundamental difference is that

eukaryotes do have "true" nuclei

containing their DNA, whereas the genetic

material in prokaryotes is not membrane-

bound.

In eukaryotes, the mitochondria and

chloroplasts perform various metabolic

processes and are believed to have been

derived from endosymbiotic bacteria. In

prokaryotes similar processes occur across

the cell membrane; endosymbionts are

extremely rare.

The cell walls of prokaryotes are generally formed of a different molecule

(peptidoglycan) to those of eukaryotes (many eukaryotes do not have a cell

wall at all).

Prokaryotes are usually much smaller than eukaryotic cells.

Prokaryotes also differ from eukaryotes in that they contain only a single

loop of stable chromosomal DNA stored in an area named the nucleoid,

while eukaryote DNA is found on tightly bound and organised

chromosomes. Although some eukaryotes have satellite DNA structures

called plasmids, these are generally regarded as a prokaryote feature and

many important genes in prokaryotes are stored on plasmids.

Prokaryotes have a larger surface area to volume ratio giving them a higher

metabolic rate, a higher growth rate and consequently a shorter generation

time compared to Eukaryotes.

Genes

Prokaryotes also differ from eukaryotes in the structure, packing,

density, and arrangement of their genes on the chromosome.

Prokaryotes have incredibly compact genomes compared to

eukaryotes, mostly because prokaryote genes lack introns and large

non-coding regions between each gene.

Whereas nearly 95% of the human genome does not code for

proteins or RNA or includes a gene promoter, nearly all of the

prokaryote genome codes or controls something.

Prokaryote genes are also expressed in groups, known as operons,

instead of individually, as in eukaryotes.

In a prokaryote cell, all genes in an operon(three in the case of the

famous lac operon) are transcribed on the same piece of RNA and

then made into separate proteins, whereas if these genes were native

to eukaryotes, they each would have their own promoter and be

transcribed on their own strand of mRNA. This lesser degree of

control over gene expression contributes to the simplicity of the

prokaryotes as compared to the eukaryotes.

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— 2 07 .✗.✗.2 5 3

May 12, 2013, 12:11pm

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References

Wikipedia:Eukaryote

Wikipedia:Prokaryote

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October 17, 2012, 1:50pm

why do the cells differ

— 2 09 .✗.✗.1 4 6

June 2, 2012, 2:57pm

very interesting, but could use pictures in the v ideo.

— 7 1 .✗.✗.2 02

February 9, 2012, 1:26pm

Two things we learned:

- Many Eukary otes don't have a cell wall

- Prokary otes contain a single loop of stable chromosomal DNA

stored in the nucleiod.

A question that we still have:

- What are some similarities between the two?

— 1 7 0.✗.✗.1 9

Novem ber 17, 2011, 3:50pm

can y ou add more similarities?

— 2 05 .✗.✗.1 1 9

Novem ber 4, 2011, 6:52am

super helpful, thanks

— 7 4 .✗.✗.5 9

March 21, 2009, 12:54am

I'm try ing to figure out why there is such differences in sizes

between the cells.

— 6 8 .✗.✗.1 3 8

June 19, 2014, 4:11pm

It helped me a lot but may I know about their presence and

absence of cell organelles

— 1 06 .✗.✗.1 6 8

May 21, 2014, 1:41pm

Now I can cheat on my test :) jk

— 2 04 .✗.✗.2 0

May 20, 2014, 6:30pm

Well understood.

— 8 2 .✗.✗.2 2 2

December 24, 2013, 7:34pm

Thx a lot....its really helpfull

— 1 1 3 .✗.✗.5 1

December 12, 2013, 9:25am

Easy to understand

— 1 06 .✗.✗.1 2 9

Novem ber 1, 2012, 3:46pm

which structures carry out respiration in prokary otes?

— 2 02 .✗.✗.3 7

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