Lesson 2.

Prokaryotes and
Eukaryotes

General Biology 11/2

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
What type of house
would you prefer?
How can you describe
a “perfect” house?

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Like the different types
of houses, different
organisms also have
varying types of cells.

3
These cells also
contain different
structures that all
contribute to the
normal functions
necessary for life, just
like houses.
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How can you differentiate a
prokaryotic cell from a
eukaryotic cell?

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Learning Competency
At the end of the lesson, you should be able to do the following:

Distinguish prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells

according to their distinguishing features.
(STEM_BIO11/12-Ia-c-3).

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 Learning Objectives
At the end of the lesson, you should be able to do the following:

● Describe prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.

● Compare and contrast the features of prokaryotic

and eukaryotic cells.

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 The Two Types of Cell

Prokaryotic Cell

● This can be compared

to a studio-type of a
condominium unit
because of the lack of
compartments.

Overview of a prokaryotic cell

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 The Two Types of Cell

Prokaryotic Cell

● Prokaryotic organisms
are metabolically
diverse because they
can utilize different
nutrients and energy
sources and they can
inhabit all types of Overview of a prokaryotic cell
environment on Earth.
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 The Two Types of Cell

Prokaryotic Cell

● All bacteria that

include the organisms
of domains Archaea
and Bacteria are
considered as
prokaryotes.
Overview of a prokaryotic cell

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 The Two Types of Cell

Eukaryotic Cell

● This is comparable
to a mansion which
has several rooms
or compartments.

Overview of a eukaryotic cell

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 The Two Types of Cell

Eukaryotic Cell

● Domain Eukarya,
which includes
protists, fungi,
plants, and
animals, is
eukaryotic.

Overview of a eukaryotic cell

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 Distinguishing Features of Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells

Presence of Cell wall and cell

Nucleus membrane

Distinguishing Features
(cellular parts)

Endomembrane and
Ribosome
other organelles
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 Distinguishing Features of Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells

Presence of Nucleus

Cell wall and cell

membrane

Endomembrane and
other organelles

Ribosome The genetic material is enclosed in the nucleus of

eukaryotes and in the nucleoid region of
prokaryotes. 14
 Distinguishing Features of Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells

Cell wall Cell wall

Presence of Nucleus
of eukaryotes of prokaryotes

Cell wall and cell present in most

membrane eukaryotic cells (these are present in almost all
not found in animals and prokaryotic cells
Endomembrane and most protists)
other organelles
Cell wall is either made up
Cell wall is made up of
of cellulose as in plants
Ribosome peptidoglycan.
and chitin in fungi.
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 Distinguishing Features of Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells
Cell membrane
Presence of Nucleus
of eukaryotes
Cell wall and cell The sterols that are
membrane present in the cell
membrane are
Endomembrane and cholesterol (animals),
other organelles
phytosterol (plants) and
ergosterol (fungi).
Ribosome
Cell membrane
of prokaryotes
They do not have
sterols in the cell
membrane but have a
sterol-like lipid
component called
hopanoid.
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 Distinguishing Features of Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells

Presence of Nucleus Endomembrane system

Cell wall and cell

● It includes the rough and smooth
membrane endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi
apparatus, lysosome, endosome, and
Endomembrane and vacuole.
other organelles

● It is present in eukaryotic cells, but not

Ribosome in prokaryotic cells.
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 Distinguishing Features of Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells

Ribosome Ribosome
Presence of Nucleus
of eukaryotes of prokaryotes

Cell wall and cell Ribosomes can be

membrane found in the cytoplasm,
outer nuclear
All ribosomes are found
Endomembrane and membrane, rough
other organelles in the cytoplasm.
endoplasmic reticulum,
mitochondrion, and
Ribosome chloroplast.

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 Distinguishing Features of Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells

Ribosome Ribosome
Presence of Nucleus
of eukaryotes of prokaryotes

Cell wall and cell Eukaryotes have 80S

membrane ribosomes
Prokaryotes have 70S
(mitochondria, and
ribosomes.
Endomembrane and chloroplast contain 70S
other organelles
ribosomes)

Ribosome

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The DNA structure of prokaryotic and
eukaryotic cell is different from one
another. Will it affect the process of
DNA replication, transcription, and
translation? If so, how? If not, why did
you say so?

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 Distinguishing Features of Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells

Shape of Number of
Cell Size
DNA Chromosome

Other Distinguishing Features

Mode of DNA Transcription

Reproduction Replication and Translation
 Distinguishing Features of Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells

Shape of DNA

Number of
chromosome
Chromosome number Chromosome number
Cell size in eukaryotes in prokaryotes

Mode of more than one linear one covalent, closed,

reproduction
DNA with histone circular DNA
DNA replication

Transcription and
Translation
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 Distinguishing Features of Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells

Shape of DNA

Number of
chromosome

Cell size

Mode of
reproduction

DNA replication

Transcription and
Translation In eukaryotes, the DNA is wrapped around
histones to form nucleosomes. 23
 Distinguishing Features of Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells

Shape of DNA Chromosome number Chromosome number

Number of in eukaryotes in prokaryotes
chromosome
Eukaryotes have more
Cell size than one chromosome so Most prokaryotes have
histones are essential in only one chromosome
Mode of
reproduction packaging DNA into and an
nucleosomes and helping extrachromosomal
DNA replication it to condense into DNA called a plasmid.
Transcription and chromatin.
Translation
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 Distinguishing Features of Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells

Shape of DNA

Number of
chromosome

Cell size

Mode of
reproduction

DNA replication

Transcription and
Translation Relative sizes of bacteria (prokaryote), plant
cell (eukaryote), and animal cell (eukaryote) 25
 Distinguishing Features of Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells

Shape of DNA

Number of Mode of reproduction Mode of reproduction

chromosome in eukaryotes in prokaryotes
Cell size Most prokaryotic cells
In eukaryotic cells,
Mode of
reproduce through
individual cells
reproduction binary fission and
reproduce through
some reproduce
DNA replication mitosis and meiosis.
through spores.
Transcription and
Translation
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 Distinguishing Features of Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells

Shape of DNA

Number of
chromosome

Cell size

Mode of
reproduction

DNA replication

Transcription and
Translation
Eukaryotic cells undergoing mitosis 27
 Distinguishing Features of Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells

Shape of DNA

Number of DNA replication DNA replication

chromosome in eukaryotes in prokaryotes
Cell size Eukaryotic cells have
DNA replication occurs
Mode of
multiple points of origin
in two opposing
reproduction and use unidirectional
directions at the same
replication within the
DNA replication time in the cytoplasm.
nucleus.
Transcription and
Translation
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 Distinguishing Features of Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells

Shape of DNA

Number of DNA replication DNA replication

chromosome in eukaryotes in prokaryotes
Cell size Telomerase is involved Prokaryotic cells do not
Mode of
in the replication of have telomeres so
reproduction telomeres of the telomerase is not
eukaryotic present and involved in
DNA replication
chromosome. their DNA replication.
Transcription and
Translation
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 Distinguishing Features of Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells

Shape of DNA

Number of DNA replication DNA replication

chromosome in eukaryotes in prokaryotes
Cell size Eukaryotes only
Mode of
replicate their DNA Prokaryotes
reproduction during the S-phase of continuously replicate
interphase in cell their short DNA.
DNA replication
division.
Transcription and
Translation
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 Distinguishing Features of Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells

Shape of DNA

Number of Transcription and Transcription and

chromosome translation translation
Cell size
in eukaryotes in prokaryotes

Mode of
The transcription occurs Transcription and
reproduction in the nucleus and the translation can be done
translation occurs in the at the same time in the
DNA replication
cytoplasm. cytoplasm.
Transcription and
Translation
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 Distinguishing Features of Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells

Shape of DNA
Transcription and Transcription and
Number of translation translation
chromosome in eukaryotes in prokaryotes
Cell size No post-transcriptional
Post-transcriptional
Mode of
processing because the
processing is done in
reproduction DNA of prokaryotes
eukaryotes to remove
does not have a
DNA replication introns and come up
non-coding part called
with the final RNA.
Transcription and introns.
Translation
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An unknown cell is discovered in
a sulfur-rich area. The cell is
about 750 µm in size but there
are no partitions or
compartments inside the cell.
What type of cell is the unknown
cell?
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 Check Your Understanding

Write P if the statement applies to prokaryotes, E if it

describes a eukaryote, and B if the statement is
applicable for both prokaryotes and eukaryotes.

1. It has a circular genetic material.

2. Sterols are embedded in the cell membrane.
3. The process of translation occurs in the cytoplasm.
4. The cell wall is made up of peptidoglycan.
5. It undergoes binary fission to produce new cells.
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 Check Your Understanding

Answer the questions correctly in 2-3 sentences only.

1. Discuss the importance of histones in a skin cell.

2. Compare and contrast bacterial cell wall and plant cell
wall.
3. Describe the genetic material of Lactobacillus casei.

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 Let’s Sum It Up!

● Cells are classified into two types: prokaryotic

cell and eukaryotic cell.
○ Prokaryotic cells are found in prokaryotic
organisms while eukaryotic cells are found in
eukaryotic organisms.
● Examples of prokaryotes are Archaeans and
Bacteria. Examples of eukaryotes are plants,
animals, fungi, and protists.
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 Let’s Sum It Up!

● Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells vary in terms of

presence of nucleus, endomembrane system, cell
wall and cell membrane, ribosome, shape of DNA
and number of chromosome, cell size, DNA
replication, transcription and translation, and
mode of reproduction.

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Challenge Yourself

Why are mutations more common in

prokaryotic cells than in eukaryotic
cells?

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 Photo Credit
● Mitosis_(261_13)_Pressed;_root_meristem_of_onion_(c
ells_in_prophase,_metaphase,_anaphase,_telophase)
by Josef Reischig is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via
Wikimedia Commons.
Bibliography
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Biology 11. Toronto: McGraw-Hill Ryerson, 2002.
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Campbell, Neil A., Michael L. Cain, Peter V. Minorsky, Jane B.
Reece, Lisa A. Urry, and Steven Alexander
Wasserman. Biology: a Global Approach. Harlow, Essex,
England: Pearson Education Limited, 2018.
Mader, Sylvia S. Concepts of Biology. New York: McGraw-Hill,
2011.
Madigan, Michael T., Kelly S. Bender, Daniel H. Buckley, W.
Matthew. Sattley, and David A. Stahl. Brock Biology of
Microorganisms. Harlow, United Kingdom: Pearson
Education Limited, 2017.
Study.com. Study.com. Accessed February 4, 2020.
https://study.com/academy/lesson/eukaryotic-and-prok
aryotic-cells-similarities-and-differences.html.
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