Eukaryotic Cells vs. Prokaryotic Cells

By Brian & David Munroe

The Cells• Eukaryotic • Contains a complex structure within a membrane• Has a nucleus• Genetic material is contained within the nucleus• Large• Plant & Animal Cells• Prokaryotic• Simple singular cell• Does not have a nucleus• Genetic material can be found in the cytoplasm• Small compared to the Eukaryotes• Bacteria

Nuclear Body• Eukaryotic• Bounded by a nuclear membrane with pores connecting to the endoplasmic

reticulum • Both RNA & DNA is formed in the nucleus• The Nuclear Body is the Nucleus • Prokaryotic• Not bounded by a nuclear membrane• There is no Nucleus present• The nuclear body is called a nucleoid • The nucleoid is a the prokaryotic nuclear body, composed of a single molecule of

circular, DNA

Cell Division• Eukaryotic • The plant and animal cells divide by mitosis• Steps of mitosis are Prophase, Metaphase, Anaphase & Telophase (PMAT)• Haploids & Diploids are divided by meiosis • Prokaryotic• Don’t divide by mitosis but binary fission • Prokaryotes are haploids so no meiosis is needed

Cytoplasmic Structures• Eukaryotic• Ribosomes • Has organelles such as mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum (soft & rough), Golgi

apparatus, vacuoles and lysosomes• Eukaryotes have a cytoskeleton and it contains microtubules and microfilaments• Prokaryotic• Ribosomes are also present• Prokaryotes do not have organelles such as mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum,

Golgi apparatus, vacuoles, and lysosomes• contain actin proteins that are along with the cell wall, and help to cell shape

Improve this chart Eukaryotic Cell Prokaryotic Cell

Vacuoles: Present Present

Cell wall: Only in plant cells (chemically simpler)

Usually chemically complexed

True Membrane bound Nucleus:

Present Absent

DNA wrapping onproteins.:

Yes No

Number of chromosomes:

More than one One--but not true chromosome: Plasmids

Nucleolus: Present Absent

Mitosis: Yes No---but has binary fission

Microtubules: Present Absent or rare

Plasma membrane with steriod:

Yes Usually no

Telomeres: Present (Linear DNA) Circular DNA doesn't need telemeres

Vesicles: Present Present

Golgi apparatus: Present Absent

cell size: 1-10um 10-100um

Lysosomes and peroxisomes:

Present Absent

Permeability of Nuclear Membrane:

Selective High

Flagella: Microscopic in size; membrane bound; usually arranged as nine doublets

Submicroscopic in size, composed of only one fiber

Movement• Eukaryotic• Have a flagella or cilia

• Prokaryotic• Have flagella• Do not have cilia

Examples• Eukaryotic• Animal cells ( Humans, lions, sloths, etc.)• Plant Cells ( Trees, flowers, grass, etc.)• Algae• Fungi (mushrooms, etc.)• Prokaryotic • Bacteria (E.coli, etc.)• Archae (methanogens, etc.)

Video• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRO-DPyB9Bk

Five Fantastic Facts1. Eukaryotes have a nucleus and Prokaryotes do not2. Eukaryotes are much more complex than Prokaryotes and much larger3. Prokaryotes reproduce through binary fission and Eukaryotes reproduce through

mitosis4. Prokaryotes lack organelles 5. Genetic material in Eukaryotes is found in the nucleus and in Prokaryotes it is

found in the cytoplasm