Prokaryotic vs. Eukaryotic Cells!
Bauck SNC 2D Name: ________________________
Learning Goal: Organize a table of data comparing and contrasting prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Highlight the main
important differences between these two types of cells.
Introduction • The distinction between prokaryotes and eukaryotes is considered to be the most important distinction
among groups of organisms. Eukaryotic cells contain membrane-bound organelles, such as the nucleus, while prokaryotic
cells do not. Differences in cellular structure of prokaryotes and eukaryotes include the presence of mitochondria and
chloroplasts, the cell wall, and the structure of chromosomal DNA. Prokaryotes were the only form of life on Earth for
millions of years until more complicated eukaryotic cells came into being through the process of evolution.
Comparison
Nucleus
Size (um)
Micrometer which is
1/1000 the size of a mm
Cell Type
Multicellular or
unicellular?
Membrane enclosed
organelles
Chromosomes (DNA)
Cell Division
Motility
Evolution
EXAMPLES
SKETCH! 
Prokaryotic Cells
Eukaryotic Cells
1. Prokaryotic & Eukaryotic: Two Types of Biological Cells
http://www.scienceprofonline.com/cell-biology/prokaryotic-and-eukaryotic-two-types-of-biological-cells.html
Only a few hundred years ago it was believed that living things could spontaneously generate, moment by moment,
from non-living matter. We now know better. Living things are made of cells, and cells come from other cells.
Two Basic Types of Cells
Prokaryotic cells are evolutionarily ancient. They were here first and for billions of years were the only form of life.
Today most life is prokaryotic, and these cells are supremely successful. All bacteria and bacteria-like Archaea are
prokaryotic organisms.
Eukaryotes can be single celled or multi-cellular organisms. Eukaryotic cells are more complex, having evolved from a
prokaryote-like predecessor. Most of the living things that we are typically familiar with are composed of eukaryotic
cells; animals, plants, fungi and protists.
Features of Prokaryotes
Meaning: Pro = “before”, karyon = “nucleus”
Prokaryotes are primarily distinguished by the fact that they lack the eukaryotic feature of a membrane-bound nucleus.
In fact, the only membrane in prokaryotic cells is the plasma membrane--the outer boundary of the cell itself. Their
genetic material is naked within the cytoplasm, ribosomes are their only type of organelle.
Modern prokaryotes, represented by the domains Archaea and Eubacteria, are single celled organisms that reproduce
through binary fission, duplicating their genetic material and then essentially splitting to form two daughter cells
identical to the parent.
Features of Eukaryotes Meaning: Eu = “true”, karyon = “nucleus”
The most noticeable feature that differentiates these more complex cells from prokaryotes is the presence of a nucleus-a double membrane-bound control center separating the genetic material, DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid), from the rest of
the cell.
Eukaryotic cells also have an endomembrane system composed of different membrane-bound organelles that transport
materials around the cell. The endomembrane system includes the rough and smooth endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi
apparatus and different types of transport vesicles.
Eukaryotes also have energy producing organelles, such as mitochondria and chloroplasts, both believed to have
evolved from prokaryotes that began living symbiotically within eukaryotic cells. These vital organelles are involved in
metabolism and energy conversion within the cell.
Depending on the organism, eukaryotic cells can reproduce in one of several ways, including meiosis (sexual
reproduction) and mitosis (cell division producing identical daughter cells).
2. Eukaryotic Cell vs Prokaryotic Cell
http://www.diffen.com/difference/Eukaryotic_Cell_vs_Prokaryotic_Cell
Definition of eukaryotes and prokaryotes
 Prokaryotes (pro-KAR-ee-ot-es) (from Old Greek pro- before + karyon nut or kernel, referring to the cell nucleus,
+ suffix -otos, pl. -otes; also spelled "procaryotes") are organisms without a cell nucleus (= karyon), or any other
membrane-bound organelles. Most are unicellular, but some prokaryotes are multicellular.

Eukaryotes (IPA: [juːˈkæɹɪɒt]) are organisms whose cells are organized into complex structures by internal
membranes and a cytoskeleton. The most characteristic membrane bound structure is the nucleus. This feature
gives them their name, (also spelled "eucaryote,") which comes from the Greek ευ, meaning good/true, and
κάρυον, meaning nut, referring to the nucleus. Animals, plants, fungi, and protists are eukaryotes.
Differences between eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells
The difference between the structure of prokaryotes and eukaryotes is so great that it is considered to be the most
important distinction among groups of organisms.
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The most fundamental difference is that eukaryotes do have "true" nuclei containing their DNA, whereas the
genetic material in prokaryotes is not membrane-bound.
Prokaryotes are usually much smaller than eukaryotic cells- roughly ten times smaller. A prokaryotic cell is
anywhere from 1-10 um and a eukaryotic cell can be 10-100 um in size.
Prokaryotes also differ from eukaryotes in that they contain only a single loop of stable chromosomal DNA
stored in an area named the nucleoid, while eukaryote DNA is found on tightly bound and organized
chromosomes.
Prokaryotes have a larger surface area to volume ratio giving them a higher metabolic rate, a higher growth rate
and consequently a shorter generation time compared to Eukaryotes.
3. The Cell- What Are Cells?
By Regina Bailey
http://biology.about.com/od/cellanatomy/a/eukaryprokarycells.htm
Life is both wonderful and majestic. Yet for all of its majesty, all organisms are composed of the fundamental unit of life,
the cell. The cell is the simplest unit of matter that is alive. From the unicellular bacteria to multicellular animals, the cell
is one of the basic organizational principles of biology. Let's look at some of the components of this basic organizer of
living organisms.
Eukaryotic Cells and Prokaryotic Cells
There are two primary types of cells: eukaryotic cells and prokaryotic cells. Eukaryotic cells are called so because they
have a true nucleus. The nucleus, which houses DNA, is contained within a membrane and separated from other cellular
structures. Prokaryotic cells however have no true nucleus. DNA in a prokaryotic cell is not separated from the rest of
the cell but coiled up in a region called the nucleoid.
As organized in the Three Domain System, prokaryotes include archaeans and bacteria. Eukaryotes include animals,
plants, fungi and protists. Typically, eukaryoitc cells are more complex and much larger than prokaryotic cells. On
average, prokaryotic cells are about 10 times smaller in diameter than eukaryotic cells.
Eukaryotes grow and reproduce through a process called mitosis. In organisms that also reproduce sexually, the
reproductive cells are produced by a type of cell division called meiosis. Most prokaryotes reproduce through a process
called binary fission. During binary fission, the single DNA molecule replicates and the original cell is divided into two
identical daughter cells.
Both eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms get the energy they need to grow and maintain normal cellular function
through cellular respiration. Cellular respiration has three main stages: glycolysis, the citric acid cycle, and electron
transport. In eukaryotes, most cellular respiration reactions take place within the mitochondria. In prokaryotes, they
occur in the cytoplasm and/or within the cell membrane.
The Cell
Prokaryotes
Eukaryotes (Plant cell)