The above shows an Eukaryotic cell. It is called eukaryotic because it possesses a true nucleus. Eukaryotic cells are more complex than prokaryotic cells, and they have evolved from a prokaryote-like predecessor. Eukaryotic cells include animal cell, plant cells, fungi and protists cells. On the other hand, Prokaryotic cells have no nucleus, as shown below.
Prokaryotic cells include bacterial cells. There are several differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. The main difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells is the presence of a membrane-bound nucleus that separate DNA from the rest of the cell.
The purpose of the nucleus is to separate the DNA-related functions of the eukaryotic cell from the other activities in the cytoplasm. The ensures greater efficiency for the different cell activities. However, since the prokaryotic cell is much smaller than the eukaryotic cell, this means that all materials within the cell are relatively close together and so separation of compartments with the membrane-bound nucleus is not necessary.
The table below shows the differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.
Prokaryotic cells | Eukaryotic cells |
Unicellular | Multicellular |
Smaller size <5micrometers | Bigger size > 10micrometers |
Mitochondria absent | Mitochondria present |
Chloroplasts absent | Chloroplasts present |
Small ribosomes | Large ribosomes |
Plasma membrane absent | Plasma membrane present |
Nucleolus absent | Nucleolus present |
One chromosomes | More than one chromosomes |
Circular DNA, not associated with any proteins | Linear DNA-Protein complex called chromatin |
Membrane-bound nucleus absent | Membrane-bound nucleus present |
Chemically simpler cell wall | Usually chemically complex cell wall |
Golgi apparatus absent | Golgi apparatus present |
Endoplastic reticulum absent | Endoplasmic reticulum present |
Lysosomes and peroxisomes absent | Lysosomes and peroxisomes present |
The video below summarizes the differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Enjoy the video!
References:
http://www.cod.edu/people/faculty/fancher/prokeuk.htm
http://www.diffen.com/difference/Eukaryotic_Cell_vs_Prokaryotic_Cell
http://www.suite101.com/content/prokaryotic-and-eukaryotic-cells-a32332
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68_0JLZzlR0
