Prokaryotic Cells vs. Eukaryotic Cells
There are some key ingredients that a cell needs in order to be a cell, regardless of whether it
is prokaryotic or eukaryotic. All cells share four key components:
1. The plasma membrane is an outer covering that separates the cell’s interior from its
surrounding environment.
2. Cytoplasm consists of the jelly-like cytosol inside the cell, plus the cellular structures
suspended in it. In eukaryotes, cytoplasm specifically means the region outside the nucleus
but inside the plasma membrane.
3. DNA is the genetic material of the cell.
4. Ribosomes are molecular machines that synthesize proteins
Prokaryotic Cells
Despite these similarities, prokaryotes and
eukaryotes differ in a number of important ways. A
prokaryote is a simple, unicellular organism that lacks a
nucleus and no membrane-bound organelles. The
majority of prokaryotic DNA is found in a central region of
the cell called the nucleoid, and it typically consists of a
single large loop called a circular chromosome.
Prokaryotes include organisms that are from the Bacteria
and Archaea groups. They have a very rigid cell wall
made from a polymer called peptidoglycan which gives these cells extra protection. Prokaryotes also
tend to be much smaller than Eukaryotic cells.
Eukaryotic Cells
Eukaryotic cells are much more
complicated and larger than prokaryotic cells.
They have many membrane organelles like the
nucleus, mitochondria, chloroplasts, and
endoplasmic reticulum. The nucleus is very special
because it contains the DNA for the cell inside of
it. The DNA is found in linear chromosomes rather than the circular ones for prokaryotes. Some
eukaryotic cells even have a cell wall but it's made of cellulose or chitin. As you can imagine the more
complex organisms like humans, plants, fungi and protists are classified as eukaryotes.