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Difference Between Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells: February 2017
Difference Between Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells: February 2017
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Home » Science » Biology » Cell Biology » Difference Between Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells
Difference Between Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic
Cells
February 25, 2017 • by Lakna • 7 min read
Main Difference – Prokaryotic vs
Eukaryotic Cells
All living organisms can be divided into prokaryotes and
Immune Cell Assays eukaryotes. Bacteria and archaea belong to prokaryotes.
Eukaryotes are the organisms in kingdom protista, fungi,
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patient/ donor cells including rare plantae and animalia. Prokaryotic cells don’t have possess
subsets
nucleus, nuclear membranes and nucleoli. But eukaryotic cells
celentyx.com consist of a true nucleus enclosed by two membranes. Thus,
the key difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells is that prokaryotic cells are lacking membranebound
organelles including nucleus while eukaryotic cells consist of membranebound organelles including a nucleus.
This article looks at,
1. What are Prokaryotic Cells
– Structure and Characteristics
2. What are Eukaryotic Cells
– Structure and Characteristics
3. What is the difference between Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells
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What are Prokaryotic Cells
Unicellular organisms which don’t have membranebound organelles like nucleus and mitochondria are referred to as
prokaryotic cells. These organisms are divided into two groups depending on the components of the cell wall: Bacteria
and Archaea. In prokaryotes, the cell membrane encloses watersoluble proteins, DNA and metabolites in the
cytoplasm. They do not possess separate compartments, but microcompartments act as primitive organelles which are
created by protein shells.
Most prokaryotes are 0.2 to 2 µm in size. Four types of shapes can be identified in bacteria: sphericalshaped (cocci),
rodshaped (bacilli), spiralshaped (spirochaete) and commashaped (vibrio). Cyanobacteria also form large colonies
and myxobacteria containing multicellular stages in the life cycle. Bacteria consist of a primitive cytoskeleton and a
cell wall made up of peptidoglycan: a polymer of linked carbohydrates and small proteins. Cell wall provides
protection to the cell, maintains the shape and prevents dehydration. Some bacteria possess an outermost layer called
capsule which is sticky, helping the cell to attach to surfaces. Flagella, a wipelike structure help to move by acting as
a rotor motor. On the other hand, fimbriae, a numerous hairlike structure also help the attachment.
Some bacteria consist of a glycocalyx which covers the cell membrane surroundings. Bacterial cytoplasm is a gellike
substance which dissolves a variety of organic molecules together with cellular components. Small 70S ribosomes are
present for the protein synthesis. Genomic DNA is found in a region called nucleoid in the cytoplasm. Bacteria
consist of a single circular chromosome. Some DNA pieces are found in the cytoplasm as circular plasmids. The
structure of a prokaryotic cell is shown in figure 1.
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Figure 1: Prokaryotic Cell Structure
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Both bacteria and archaea exhibit asexual reproduction via binary fission. Bacterial gene transfer occurs in three
methods: transduction mediated by bacteriophages, conjugation mediated by plasmids, and natural transformation.
This is called horizontal gene transfer. Rodlike structures called pili allow the genetic transfer. Archaeal gene transfer
occurs through cytoplasmic bridges.
What are Eukaryotic Cells
Eukaryotes are unicellular or multicellular organisms,
which have membraneenclosed organelles such as
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chloroplasts in plants. Multicellular eukaryotes contain
specialized tissues made by different types of cells.
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Eukaryotes can be identified under four kingdoms: Most Common Mistake That
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Kingdom Animalia.
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A eukaryotic cell is larger in size (10 to 100 µm) compared
to prokaryotes. In eukaryotes, various cell types such as
animal cells, plant cells and fungal cells can be identified. Eukaryotic cytoskeleton is composed of microfilaments,
microtubules and intermediate filaments. It plays a vital role in cellular organization and its shape. Plants and fungi
possess a cell wall made up of cellulose, hemicellulose, pectin and chitin respectively.
Eukaryotic cells are composed of a variety of membranebound organelles. The nucleus is enclosed by two
membranes called nuclear envelop. Nuclear membrane forms the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) which is involved in
protein maturation and transportation. Ribosomes are large, 80S in size and they are bound to the ER. Ribosome
bound ER is referred to as rough ER. Vesicles are present for the transformation of various molecules within the cell
such as golgi bodies, lysosomes and peroxizomes. Mitochondria is also surrounded by two phospholipid bilayers.
They covert sugar into ATPs to utilize as energy. Plant cells contain chloroplasts for the photosynthesis. The structure
of a typical plant cell is shown in figure 2.
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Figure 2: Plant cell structure
Usually, eukaryotes are composed of more than one chromosomes in the nucleus. These chromosomes are linear and
most of the times they exist in multiple copies called homologous. Eukaryotes reproduce either asexually through
mitosis or sexually through meiosis followed by the fusion of gametes.
Difference Between Prokaryotic And Eukaryotic Cells
Definition
Prokaryotic Cell: Prokaryotic cells don’t possess nucleus and membranebound organelles.
Eukaryotic Cell: Eukaryotic cells possess membranebound organelles including the nucleus.
Size of the cell
Prokaryotic Cell: These cells are normally 0.2 to 2 µm in diameter.
Eukaryotic Cell: These cells are normally 10 to 100 µm in diameter.
Nucleus
Prokaryotic Cell: Prokaryotic cells have no true nucleus, no nuclear membranes or nucleoli.
Eukaryotic Cell: Eukaryotic cells consist of a true nucleus with nuclear membranes and nucleoli.
DNA
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Prokaryotic Cell: Prokaryotic cells consist of single, circular DNA molecule in the nucleoid, They don’t have
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histones or exons.
Eukaryotic Cell: Eukaryotic cells consist of multiple, linear chromosomes in the nucleus. They contain Histones, and
exons.
Membranebound Organelles
Prokaryotic Cell: Prokaryotic cells do not have membranebound organelles.
Eukaryotic Cell: Membranebound organelles such as mitochondria, chloroplast, ER and vesicles are present.
Flagella
Prokaryotic Cell: Flagella are made up of two proteins.
Eukaryotic Cell: Some cells without cell wall contain flagella.
Glycocalyx
Prokaryotic Cell: Glycocalyx acts as a capsule.
Eukaryotic Cell: Some eukaryotic cells that don’t have cell walls possess a glycocalyx.
Cell Wall
Prokaryotic Cell: Prokaryotic cells are mostly made up of peptidoglycans. They are chemically complex.
Eukaryotic Cell: Eukaryotic cells are made up of cellulose, chitin and pectin. Prokaryotic cells are chemically
simple.
Plasma Membrane
Prokaryotic Cell: Carbohydrates and sterols are not found in the plasma membrane.
Eukaryotic Cell: Carbohydrates and sterols serves as receptors on the plasma membrane.
Cytoplasm
Prokaryotic Cell: Prokaryotic cells are primitive cytoskeleton with no cytoplasmic streaming.
Eukaryotic Cell: Eukaryotic cells have complex cytoskeleton with cytoplasmic streaming.
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Ribosomes EXPLORE
Prokaryotic Cell: Prokaryotic cells are small in size, 70S.
Eukaryotic Cell: Eukaryotic cells are large in size, 80S. 70S ribosomes are present in organelles like mitochondria
and chloroplast.
Cell Division
Prokaryotic Cell: Cell division occurs through binary fission.
Eukaryotic Cell: Cell division takes place through mitosis.
Sexual Reproduction
Prokaryotic Cell: No sexual reproduction, horizontal gene transfer and recombination can be observed.
Eukaryotic Cell: Sexual reproduction happens through meiosis.
Examples
Prokaryotic Cell: Bacteria and archaea are examples
Eukaryotic Cell: Protista, fungi, plants and animals are examples.
Conclusion
Prokaryotic cells transport their metabolites through the cytoplasm, but eukaryotic cells consist of different kinds of
vesicles to transport different metabolites. Protein synthesis in eukaryotic cells occurs in 80S ribosomes attached to
the ER. Synthesised polynucleotide chains enter the ER. Protein folding and transportation into various parts of the
cell are maintained by the ER. Therefore, the key difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells stems from the
presence or absence of the nucleus and the membranebound organelles.
Reference:
1. “Prokaryote”. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, 2017. Accessed 22 Feb 2017
2. “Prokaryotic cells”. KHANACEDAMY, 2017. Accessed 22 Feb 2017
3. “Eukaryote”. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, 2017. Accessed 22 Feb 2017
4. “Eukaryotic cells”. Learn Science at Scitable, Nature Education, 2017. Accessed 22 Feb 2017
Image Courtesy:
1. “Average prokaryote cell en.svg”. By Mariana Ruiz Villarreal, LadyofHats – Own work (Public Domain) via
Commons Wikimedia
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2. “Plant cell structureen.svg”. By LadyofHats – Selfmade using Adobe Illustrator (Public Domain) via Commons
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Wikimedia
About the Author: Lakna
Lakna, a graduate in Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, is a Molecular Biologist and has a
broad and keen interest in the discovery of nature related things
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