Name ______________________________
Date_____________ Period _______
1
2 Main Types of Cells
All living things are made of ______________.
Cells are the ______________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________.
There are two basic types of cells:
________________________________________ and ____________________________________.
The root "karyose" comes from the Greek word meaning ______________________________, and is
used today in biology to refer to the nucleus of a cell.
The root "pro" means __________________________ and "eu" means __________________________,
so the term prokaryotic means "before a nucleus" and eukaryotic means "possessing a true nucleus."
Prokaryotic cells are very simple. They have no nucleus or other
organelles (internal cell parts) and their genetic material (DNA) are
circular. Also, most have a thick and inflexible cell wall. You can
recognize Prokaryotic cells easily, because their DNA is free inside the
cytoplasm within cell, not encased in a nucleus.
Eukaryotic cells are more complex and, for the most part, larger in size.
They are all bound by a flexible cell membrane, allowing them to
exchange materials more quickly with their environment. Their genetic
material is located on thread-like strands of DNA contained within a
nucleus. Organelles carry out specialized functions within the
cytoplasm—the cell’s internal space.
Using the Venn diagram, list as many comparisons as possible:
Prokaryote cells
Both
Eukaryote cells
Name ______________________________
Date_____________ Period _______
2
You Decide: Prokaryotic or Eukaryotic?
1. I am a microscopic, single-celled organism with a thick cell wall and little internal cell structure.
My genetic material is not contained within a nucleus.
What kind of cell am I?
________________________________________________
2. I am a larger, more organized cell. In this image two nuclei are visible because I have reproduced
and I am getting ready to split into two individual cells. Other organelles are also visible within my
cytoplasm.
What kind of cell am I?
________________________________________________
3. I am a hungry single-celled organism moving toward a much smaller algae cell (yummy!). My
nucleus is visible as a dark spot surrounded by a clear zone at the center of my body, and a
number of vacuoles (organelles) can be seen in my rear portion.
What kind of cell am I?
________________________________________________
4. I am a cell with circular DNA, seen in this image as lighter areas. Since I do not have organelles,
cytoplasm takes up most of the remaining space inside my thick cell wall.
What kind of cell am I?
________________________________________________
5. I am a larger, more complex cell with a flexible cell membrane that allows nutrients to pass
through me. My genetic material is contained within a nucleus, which can be seen as a large dark
spot near my center.
What kind of cell am I?
________________________________________________
Short Answer:
6. What is the major significant difference between a Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cell?