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Prokaryote cells lack a membrane-bound nucleus or organelles. Prokaryotic cells generally are smaller than eukaryotic cells. Eukaryotic cells are more complex. Prokaryotic cells are unicellular, while eukaryotic cells may be multicellular.
The defining characteristic feature that distinguishes between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell is the nucleus. In prokaryotic cells, the true nucleus is absent, moreover, membrane-bound organelles are present only in eukaryotic cells.
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.
In prokaryotes, DNA is typically organized into a single circular chromosome (a loop). In eukaryotes, on the other hand, chromosomes are linear structures (strings). Every eukaryotic species has a specific number of chromosomes in the nuclei of its body’s cells.
Like a prokaryotic cell, a eukaryotic cell has a plasma membrane, cytoplasm, and ribosomes, but a eukaryotic cell is typically larger than a prokaryotic cell, has a true nucleus (meaning its DNA is surrounded by a membrane), and has other membrane-bound organelles that allow for compartmentalization of functions.
Eukaryotic cells are larger than prokaryotic cells and have a “true” nucleus, membrane-bound organelles, and rod-shaped chromosomes. The nucleus houses the cell’s DNA and directs the synthesis of proteins and ribosomes.
Prokaryotic cells do not have a true nucleus that contains their genetic material as eukaryotic cells do. Instead, prokaryotic cells have a nucleoid region, which is an irregularly-shaped region that contains the cell’s DNA and is not surrounded by a nuclear envelope.
While prokaryotes are always unicellular organisms, eukaryotes can be either unicellular or multicellular. For example, most protists are single-celled eukaryotes! Even though prokaryotes do not have a nucleus, they DO contain genetic information.
Bacteria and microbes from the group Archaea are prokaryotes. All other life, including plants, animals, fungus, and amoebas, are eukaryotes. The eukaryotic cell shown above on the right is representative of an animal cell.
Prokaryotes are organisms that consist of a single prokaryotic cell. Eukaryotic cells are found in plants, animals, fungi, and protists. They range from 10–100 μm in diameter, and their DNA is contained within a membrane-bound nucleus. Eukaryotes are organisms containing eukaryotic cells.