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There are two types of cells: eukaryotic and prokaryotic. Prokaryotic cells are usuallyindependent, while eukaryotic cells are often found in multicellular organisms.

Prokaryotic cells

Main article: Prokaryote

Diagram of a typical prokaryotic cell Prokaryotesdiffer from eukaryotes since they lack a nuclear envelope and acell nucleus. Prokaryotes also lack most of the intracellular organelles and structures that are seen ineukaryotic cells. There are two kinds of prokaryotes, bacteriaandarchaea, but these are similar in the overall structures of their cells. Most functions of organelles, such asmitochondria, chloroplasts, and the Golgi apparatus, are taken over by the prokaryoticcell's plasma membrane. Prokaryotic cells have three architectural regions: appendagescalledflagellaand pili— proteins attached to the cell surface; acell envelope- consisting of a capsule, acell wall, and a plasma membrane; and acytoplasmic regionthat contains thecell genome(DNA) and ribosomes and various sorts of inclusions. Other featuresinclude:

•

The

plasma membrane

(a phospholipid bilayer) separates the interior of the cellfrom its environment and serves as a filter and communications beacon.

•

Most prokaryotes have a

cell wall

(some exceptions are

Mycoplasma

(bacteria)and

Thermoplasma

(archaea)). This wall consists of

peptidoglycan

in bacteria,and acts as an additional barrier against exterior forces. It also prevents the cellfrom expanding and finally bursting (cytolysis) fromosmotic pressure against a hypotonicenvironment. A cell wall is also present in some eukaryotes like plants(cellulose) andfungi,but has a different chemical composition.

•

A prokaryotic chromosome is usually a circular molecule (an exception is that of the bacterium

Borrelia burgdorferi

, which causes Lyme disease). Even without areal

nucleus

, theDNA is condensed in a

nucleoid

. Prokaryotes can carryextrachromosomal DNA elements called

plasmids

,which are usually circular.Plasmids can carry additional functions, such asantibiotic resistance.

Eukaryotic cells

Main article: Eukaryote

Diagram of a typicalanimal(eukaryotic) cell, showing subcellular components. Organelles:(1)nucleolus(2)nucleus(3)ribosome(4)vesicle(5)rough endoplasmic reticulum(ER)(6)Golgi apparatus(7)Cytoskeleton(8)smooth endoplasmic reticulum(9)mitochondria(10)vacuole(11) cytoplasm(12)lysosome(13)centrioleswithincentrosome Eukaryoticcells are about 10 times the size of a typical prokaryote and can be as much as1000 times greater in volume. The major difference between prokaryotes and eukaryotesis that eukaryotic cells contain membrane-bound compartments in which specificmetabolic activities take place. Most important among these is the presence of a cellnucleus, a membrane-delineated compartment that houses the eukaryotic cell's DNA. It isthis nucleus that gives the eukaryote its name, which means "true nucleus." Other differences include:

•

The plasma membrane resembles that of prokaryotes in function, with minor differences in the setup. Cell walls may or may not be present.

•

The eukaryotic DNA is organized in one or more linear molecules, calledchromosomes, which are associated withhistoneproteins. All chromosomal DNA is stored in the

cell nucleus

,separated from the cytoplasm by a membrane. Someeukaryoticorganellessuch asmitochondriaalso contain some DNA.

•

Eukaryotes can move using

cilia

flagella

. The flagella are more complex thanthose of prokaryotes.

Table 1: Comparison of features of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells