differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells

Animal and plant cells are eukaryotic whereas bacterial cells are prokaryotic. Eukaryotic cells have a nucleus with a nuclear membrane where the genetic material is, whereas prokaryotic cells do not have a true nucleus, they instead have plasmid as they DNA. Eukaryotic cells contain membrane bound organelles such as mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, golgi apparatus, and in plant cells, chloroplasts. Although prokaryotic cells lacks these membrane bound organelles

There are a couple of ways that Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic cells differ that are on any GCSE specification, I have listed a few of these below:

Structure:

• Prokaryotic cells have a much simpler structure and do not have a nucleus. Their genetic material is found in the cytoplasm.

• Eukaryotic cells are much more complex and do have nucleus where we know stores the genetic material of the cell.

Size:

• Prokaryotic cells tend to be much smaller in size, usually ranging from 0.1 to 5 micrometers.

• Eukaryotic cells: Larger in size, ranging from 10 to 100 micrometers.

Membrane-bound Organelles:

• Prokaryotic cells do not contain membrane-bound organelles. A prime example of an organelle that prokaryotic cells do not contain is mitochondria.

• Eukaryotic cells do contain membrane-bound organelles such as mitochondria and chloroplasts (in plant cells).

Cell Division:

• Prokaryotic cells reproduce through a process called binary fission where the cell splits into two identical daughter cells.

• Eukaryotic cells: Undergo mitosis or meiosis during cell division, both of which involve different complex steps.

prokaryotic cells lack membrane bound organelles and a well defined nucleus, reproduce mainly through binary fission while eukaryotic cells have a well defined nucleus and membrane bound organelles, reproduce through mitosis.

Prokaryotic cells Eukaryotic cells

No nucleus. Nucleus.

Genetic information Genetic information contained in nucleus.

contained in plasmids

or free in cell.

Usually unicellular. Multicellular.

Bacteria. Plants and animals.

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

Prokaryotic cells lack a true nucleus and membrane-bound organelles, while eukaryotic cells have a distinct nucleus and membrane-bound organelles like mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum. Prokaryotes are typically unicellular, simpler organisms, while eukaryotes can be unicellular or multicellular, forming more complex life forms, including plants, animals, and fungi.

Eukaryotic cells have a nucleus, prokaryotic cells do not.

Eukaryotic examples are animal and plant cells

Prokaryotic example would be bacterial cell

A prokaryotic cell is a lot smaller, no nucleus, no membrane-bound organelles, example: bacteria and a eukaryotic cell is larger and has membrane bound organelles, example: plant and animal cells

Prokaryotic cells do not have a nucleus whilst eukaryotic cells do! An easy way to remember this is by telling yourself 'eu' is 'yes' due to the similarly in wording so in essence- eukaryotic yes nucleus!

Eukaryotic has nucleus but prokaryotic doesn’t,eukaryotic has membrane bound organelle,eukaryotic is larger ,eukaryotic is multicellular and prokaryotic is unicellular

Eukaryotic cells are complex cells that contain a nucleus and other membrane-bound organelles. They are found in multicellular organisms such as animals, plants, and fungi. Prokaryotic cells are simple cells that lack a nucleus and other membrane-bound organelles. They are found in single-celled organisms such as bacteria.

Hi Elizebeth,

Thanks for your question.

So cells come in two main types:

prokaryotic

eukaryotic.

Prokaryotic cells are simpler and smaller. They do not have a nucleus or other specialised structures called organelles that are enclosed by membranes. This means their genetic material, DNA, is not stored in a nucleus but is instead found in a region of the cell called the nucleoid. Bacteria are a common example of organisms with prokaryotic cells.

Eukaryotic cells, on the other hand, are more complex and larger. They have a defined nucleus, where the DNA is kept separate from the rest of the cell. Eukaryotic cells also contain various membrane-bound organelles, such as mitochondria (power generators of the cell), endoplasmic reticulum (where proteins and lipids are made), and Golgi apparatus (sorts and packages proteins). Plants, animals, fungi, and protists are all made up of eukaryotic cells.

In summary, the key difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells is in their complexity: prokaryotic cells are basic with no nucleus or membrane-bound organelles, while eukaryotic cells have a nucleus and organelles, making them more complex and capable of performing a wider range of functions.

Prokaryotes are unicellular (single celled) organisms, such as bacteria. Prokaryotic cells lack complex features such as organelles and also lack nuclei, which are central features of eukaryotic cells; instead, their DNA is free in the cytoplasm. Additional plasmids (small loops of DNA) can also be found in prokaryotes. Prokaryotes typically have a cell wall in addition to a cell membrane.

Eukaryotic cells are found in multicellular organisms such as plants and animals. These may contain many organelles, such as chloroplasts and mitochondria. A key feature is the presence of a membrane-bound nucleus, in which their DNA can be found.

Prokaryotic cells are also much smaller than eukaryotic cells, ranging from 0.2 micrometers to 2.0 micrometers, in contrast to eukaryotic cells which can range from 5 micrometers to 100 micrometers.

Prokaryotic cells have no true nucleus, they contain free genetic material and plasmids (rings of DNA). Eukaryotic cells do contain a whole true nucleus which contains all genetic material inside. Prokaryotic cells do not contain any mitochondria where as Eukaryotic cells do contain mitochondria. An example of a Prokaryote would be a bacteria cell, and an example of a Eukaryote would be a plant cell.

Prokaryotic cells, found in bacteria and archaea, are more simple. These cells lack a true nucleus and membrane-bound organelles, and their genetic material is in the form of circular DNA. However, in eukaryotic cells, prevalent in plants, animals, fungi, and protists, possess a distinct nucleus, surrounded by a membrane, and house various membrane-bound organelles that compartmentalize cellular functions.