differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells

Eukaryotic cells have nucleus and have a complex structures with lots of organelles. While prokaryotic cells is simple with no nucleus and no organelles.

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 - true nucleus (all cells with a nucleus such as plant and animal cells)

Prokaryotic - without a nucleus (all cells without a nucleus, e.g all bacterial cells)

There are several differences betwee the eukaryotic cells and prokaryotic cells as follows:

1. Eukaryotic cells have membrane-bound organelles like mitochondria, nucleus etc. while prokaryotic cell do not have any membrane-bound organelles which means there is no nuclear envelop so no nucleus and no mitochondria etc.
2. Eukaryotic cells may be unicellular or multicellular, for example amoeba which is single-cell organism and mammals including humans which are all multicellular organisms. Prokaryotic cells, on the other hand, are always unicellular, like bacteria.
3. Eukaryotic cells are usually much larger than the prokaryotic cells.
4. Eukaryotic cells have DNA in the form of chromosomes inside the nucleus which contain histone proteins, however, prokaryotic cells have DNA in circular form present in the cytoplasm and it lacks histones as well, and additionally they also have many circular fragments of DNA called plasmids.
5. Eukaryotic DNA has plenty of non-coding DNA but prokaryotic DNA does not have such junk DNA.
6. The ribosomes in eukaryotic cells are large i.e. 80S (composed of 40S and 60S subunits) but in prokaryotic cells ribosomes are smaller i.e. 70S (composed of 30S and 50S subunits).

Eukaryotic cells contain membrane-bound organelles (such as the nucleus and mitochondria), while prokaryotic cells do not. DNA in eukaryotic cells is found inside the nucleus, while DNA in prokaryotic cells is located in the cytoplasm. Eukaryotic cells are generally larger (Most are 5 μm – 100 μm)

and more complex than prokaryotic cells (Most are 0.2 μm – 2.0 μm). Most prokaryotic cells divide by the process of binary fission, whereas in eukaryotes, cell division occurs by mitosis.

Prokaryotic cells are simpler and smaller compared to eukaryotic cells. They lack a true nucleus and membrane-bound organelles. On the other hand, eukaryotic cells are more complex and larger. They have a true nucleus that houses the genetic material and various membrane-bound organelles that perform specific functions. Another difference is that prokaryotic cells have circular DNA, while eukaryotic cells have linear DNA. Prokaryotes are typically single-celled organisms, like bacteria, while eukaryotes can be single-celled or multicellular, like plants, animals, and fungi.

Eukaryotic cells are Animal, Plant and Fungal cells. They usually make up multicellular organisms . Prokaryotic cells is the name given to single called bacterial cells.

Eukaryotic Cells:

-Have DNA contained inside of a nucleus

-May have a Cellulose cell wall (Plant Cells)

-Contain organelles such as Mitochondria/Ribosomes/Chloroplasts

Prokaryotic Cells:

-DNA is not stored in a nucleus, often found as plasmid rings

-May have a flagella for movement

-Cell wall usually present as a Capsule.

Prokaryotic cells have:

• no nucleus
• no membrane-bound organelles

Whereas eukaryotic cells have:

• A nucleus
• membrane-bound organelles

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!

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

Prokaryotic do not have a nucleus or membrane bound organelles like mitochondria

Eukaryotic do have a nucleus and membrane bound organelles like mitochondria

eukaryotic have a nucleus

eukaryotic have a membrane bound orangells

eukaryotic cells are larger

Eukaryotic cells are cells like animal or plant cells.

prokaryotic cells are cells like bacteria.

The key difference between the two is that Eukaryotic cells contain membrane bound organelles whereas prokaryotic cells do not. They also have variable (different) organelles, for example eukaryotic cells have a nucleus whereas prokaryotic cells do not!

Prokaryotic Cells - No nucleus, mitochondria, ER, lysosomes, Golgi apparatus and much smaller.

Eukaryotic cells - Have all of the above cell components