20 Explained Difference between Prokaryotic Cells and Eukaryotic Cells

What is the difference between prokaryotic cells and eukaryotic cells?

Both eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells are types of cells that exist on the earth. These two key terms help to bring structural differences among cells.

In this lesson, you will discover the core difference between prokaryotic cells and eukaryotic cells. Besides that, you will also learn about their similarities.

What Are Prokaryotic Cells?

Prokaryotic cells are those cells that lack nucleus and membranes to enclose the organelles. This implies that the DNA in prokaryotic cells is not encased within a membrane.

Examples of living things that are prokaryotes are bacteria and Archaea. Bacteria are single-cell while archaea are multicellular.

Here are some of the parts that are quite common in prokaryotic cells. They include:

Cytoplasm: These are materials found inside a cell except the nucleus.
Cell wall: The structure that surrounds the cell and offers maximum protection
Nucleoid: The region where the genetic material of the cell is kept.
Flagella and Pili: These are filaments made of proteins and they occur outside the prokaryotic cells.
Plasmid: A small molecule of DNA in the cell that reproduces independently.

What Are Eukaryotic Cells?

Eukaryotic cells are those cells that have well-defined nucleus and organelles that perform different functions.

Examples of living things that have eukaryotic cells are algae, fungi, plants, protozoa, and animals. These organisms can either be a single cell or multicellular.

Some of the common organelles quite common in Eukaryotes include:

Nucleus: The region where the genetic material of a cell is stored.
Cytoplasm: The part where most cell organelles are located and also where metabolic activities of the cell are taking place.
Chloroplast: Quite common in plants and algae. The region where sunlight energy is converted into food.
Mitochondria: Responsible for making ATP
Ribosomes: Responsible for protein synthesis
Cytoskeleton: Offer maximum support to the cell.

Prokaryotic Vs Eukaryotic Cells Comparison Chart

Basic Terms	Prokaryotic Cells	Eukaryotic Cells
Genetic Information	DNA found in the cytoplasm	DNA found in the nucleus
Organelles	Lack of nucleus and membrane-bound organelles	Have a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles.
Size	Tend to be small (0.5-3um)	Tend to be large (2-100um)
Cell Division	Binary fission	Mitosis
Number of Chromosomes	One strand	Several strands
Type of Cell	Single-cell	Multicellular
Chloroplast	Scattered in cytoplasm	Numerous in plants and algae
Lysosomes	Absent	Present
Mode of reproduction	Asexually	Sexual
Ribosomes	The 70s	The 80s
Mitochondria	Absent	Present
Presence of Nucleus	Have no well-defined nucleus	Have well-defined nucleus
Cell wall	Comprise of peptidoglycan or mucopeptide	Comprise of cellulose only present in plant cells and fungi cells.
Golgi Apparatus	Absent	Present
Endoplasmic Reticulum	Absent	Present
Replication	Single-origin	Multiple origins
Transcription and Translation	Occur all together	Translation occurs in the cytosol while transcription occurs in the nucleus
Plasma membrane with steroid	Absent	Presence
Nuclear membrane permeability	Not present	Quite selective
Example	Bacteria and archaea	Plants and animals

Core Differences Between Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells

Prokaryotic cells are quite common in single-cell organisms while eukaryotic cells are quite common in multicellular organisms.

Eukaryotic cells are quite modified and large in size while prokaryotic cells are primitive and small in size.

Eukaryotic cells have well-defined organelles such as mitochondria, ribosomes, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, etc, unlike prokaryotic cells.

Prokaryotic cells have no defined nucleus while eukaryotic cells have a well-defined nucleus.

Cell division in eukaryotic cells occurs through mitosis while in prokaryotic through binary fission.

Genetic materials in eukaryotic cells occur in linear and double-strand whereas in prokaryotic cells it occurs in circular and double-strand.

Eukaryotic cells reproduce sexually while prokaryotic cells reproduction occur asexually.

Prokaryotes are simple cells whereas eukaryotes are complex cells.

Prokaryotic cells have continuous transcription and translation whereas eukaryotic cells experience the process of translation and transcription

Prokaryotic cell regulatory mechanism of DNA is simple whereas eukaryotic cell regulatory mechanisms of DNA are complex

Prokaryotic cell duration is about 20-60 minutes while eukaryotic cell duration highly varies up to 24 hours

Eukaryotic cells have well-developed and advanced communication system whereas prokaryotic cells have an under-developed intracellular and extracellular communication system

Eukaryotic cell have cytoplasmic movement whereas prokaryotic cell does not have cytoplasmic movement

Nitrogen-fixing is present in prokaryotic cells and absent in eukaryotic cells

Photosynthesis takes place in the membrane of the cytoplasm of prokaryotic cells whereas taking place in the chloroplast of eukaryotic cells

Eukaryotic cells experience respiration in the mitochondria whereas prokaryotic respiration experience respiration in the mesosomes

Eukaryotic cells have cytoskeleton whereas prokaryotic cells lack cytoskeleton

Prokaryotic cells have plasmid whereas eukaryotic cells lack plasmid

Prokaryotic cells have haploid organism whereas eukaryotic cells have diploid organisms

Eukaryotic cells have well-developed internal membrane whereas prokaryotic cells have a scarce internal membrane

Similarities between Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells

Both are microscopic and only visible through either a light or electron microscope.

Both experience locomotion and chemotaxis

Both cells have a nucleus

Ribosomes are quite present in all cells

Both have similar cytoplasm composition

Both have cell wall for protection

Both have the ability to reproduce

Both experience photosynthesis

ATP energy is present in both

Both have 61 codons

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Comparison Video

Summary

A cell is a unit of life and it is responsible for biological activities taking place in a plant or animal. It doesn’t matter whether it is a prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell.

Prokaryotes are primitive cells with undefined nucleus while eukaryotes are modified cells with a well-developed nucleus.

More Sources and References

Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes Review. Khan Academy
Origin of Eukaryotes. NCBI

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