Classification and evolution of prokaryotic and

eukaryotic cells
Prokaryotic Cells Eukaryotic Cells
Biological
Bacteria Kingdoms
Protista, Plants, Fungi,
Animals
Evolutionary
Indications of presence presence on earth
Earliest eukaryotic cells
(evolution) of bacteria on thought to be Protista's
earth approx. 3.5 billion approx. 1 to 1.5 billion
years ago years ago.
Complexity of
Structurally & functionally cells
Structurally & functionally
relatively simple more complex.
 The main similarities and differences between
prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells
Prokaryotic Cells Characteristic Eukaryotic Cells
1. None Nucleus and Always present
membrane-bound
organelles
2. One. Unicellular organisms How many cells per One or more: Unicellular organisms exist e.g.
organism ?
unicellular algae and yeast. All cells that are
part of multicellular organisms incl. plants and
animals are eukaryotic cells.
3. Small cells. Size 1-10 μm (typically Size of cells Larger. 10 - 100 μm (Eukaryotic cells are
< 5μm) typically about 10x the size of prokaryotic
... if unfamiliar with these units see scientific cells.)
numbers ...
4. always asexual Reproduction could be either asexual or sexual
5. By binary fission Cell Division By mitosis or meiosis
6. by rigid rotating flagellum Motility by flexible cilia or flagella
(how the cell
moves)
 This table compares the contents and outer
structures of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells
Prokaryotic Content Eukaryotic Cells
Cells
1. None Nucleus and Many. All eukaryotic cells have a nucleus.
membrane- The types and quantities of other
bound
membrane-bound organelles vary with the
organelles
type of cell. Examples incl. endoplasmic
reticulum (SER , RER), golgi
apparatus, mitochondia, lysosomes,
peroxisomes and microbodies
& chloroplasts (in photosynthetic cells
only; not in animal cells).
 Prokaryotic Content Eukaryotic Cells
Cells
2a. The "nuclear body" Genetic The cell nucleus is surrounded by a double membrane.
is the location Material / Most cells have only one nucleus but some specialized
(within the Nuclear cells e.g. striated muscle cells have many nuclei.
cytoplasm) at body or (Multinucleate cells are called coenocytes.) The nucleus
which there is a Nucleus controls the activity of the cell and contains DNA and
circle of double- a nucleolus - or multiple nucleoli - in which ribosome units,
stranded DNA - ribosomal RNA and transfer RNA are produced. There
which are pores in the nuclear membrane. The nucleus is
is not enclosed continuous with the endoplasmic reticulum.
within a nuclear
membrane. The
DNA is not
associated with
proteins to form
chromatin.
 Prokaryotic Cells
2b. Short pieces of circular DNA
that replicate independently
of the cell genome are
called plasmids. Not all
prokaryotic cells contain
plasmids.
3 Cell wall has a rigid
framework of murein, a
polysaccharide cross-linked
by peptide chains.
Content Eukaryotic Cells
Genetic There are no plasmids in
Material / eukaryotic cells.
Plasmids
Cell Wall All have cell membranes
(sometimes called plasma
membranes) but not all
eukaryotic cells have cell walls:
 Plant cell walls consist mainly of
cellulose
 Fungal cell walls are made of chitin
 Animal cells do not have cell walls
 Prokaryotic Cells
The flagellum of a bacterial cell is Flagellum(singu Some eukaryotic cells also have flagella but they
4. much simpler than the flagellum of a
eukaryotic cell.
A prokaryotic flagellum consists
of a single cylinder of protein
subunits (flagellin). Prokaryotic
cell flagella are rigid.
Prokaryotic flagella are responsible
for the motility of many bacteria and
drive the cell forwards by rotating
clockwise e.g. in the same way as a
propeller on a ship.
Flagella rotate; they do not "beat".
The "motor" that drives the rotation
is embedded in the plasma
membrane of the prokaryotic cell.
Content Eukaryotic Cells
lar) / are a different type of flagella from those found in
prokaryotic cells.
Flagella (plural) Some eukaryotic cells have
but sometimes long flexible "tails" used for movement.
written flagellae They are surrounded by (not protruding
through, or outside of) the cell membrane
and contain microtubules and motor
proteins that enable complex
movements. Depending on their size,
these structures are
either flagella (longer than the cell; few
in number) or cilia (smaller but more
numerous).
Eukaryotic cell flagella have a 9+2
arrangement of subunits.