Prokaryote and Eukaryote
Biology - Student Handout
Essential Question:
All cells can be classified into two groups, prokaryotes and
eukaryotes.
Prokaryote Cell Characteristics
Prokaryotes are considered “simple” cells. Fossil records show
that prokaryote cells have been around at least 3.5 billion years.
The word prokaryote means “before the nucleus.”
Prokaryotes do not have a nucleus. They have a cell wall, a cell
membrane, cytoplasm, a circular loop of DNA and ribosomes.
Some have flagella to help them move around.
Archaebacteria and Eubacteria are kingdoms of organisms that
are prokaryotes.
Eukaryote Cell Characteristics
Eukaryotes are considered “advanced or complex” cells. Fossil
records show that eukaryote cells have been around at least 2.5
billion years. The word eukaryote means “true nucleus.”
Eukaryotes have a nucleus. They also contain many different
organelles that help them function, such as, cell membrane,
mitochondria, cytoplasm and ribosomes.
Plants, animals, fungi and protists are kingdoms of organisms
that are eukaryotes.
Summary: