Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes

Understanding the fundamental differences

Content
• Cell structure
• Prokaryotes
• Characteristic of prokaryotes
• Prokaryotic cell structure
• Prokaryotic cell parts
• Eukaryotes
• Characteristic of eukaryotes
• Eukaryotic cell parts
• Similarity between prokaryotic and Eukaryotic
• Difference between prokaryotic and Eukaryotic
• Conclusion
Cell structure

• All livings organisms can be sorted into one of two groups.

• Prokaryotes and eukaryotes.
• Prokaryotes (pro : primitive ; karyon –nuclei ).
• Eukaryotes (Eu : true ;karyon: nuclei ).
Characteristic of prokaryotes
• Prokaryotes are the simplest type of cell .
• Prokaryotes are the largest group of organisms .
• Prokaryotes mostly found in unicellular organisms .Like:Bacteria,
archaea and lower fungi.
• Mode of nutrition : Heterotroph or autotroph .
• Generally found in individuals or colony form or filamentous form .
• Reproduction happens through the process of binary fission .
• It doesn’t possess membrane bound cell organelles such as nuclei.
• It has simpler internal structure.
• They are smaller in size as compared to eukaryotes.
 PROKARYOTIC CELL PARTS
• Cell Plasmid:All the membrane surrounding and protecting the cell.
• Cytoplasm:All of the material inside a cell except the nucleus .
• Flagella and pili:Protein-based, filaments found on the outside of some prokaryotic cells .
• Nucleoid : Nucleus like region of the cell where genetic material is kept a small molecule
of DNA that can reproduce independently .
• Ribosomes: particles that synthesize proteins.
• Cell wall: made of peptidoglycan, comprised of sugars and amino acids, and many have a
polysaccharide capsule.
• An extra layer of protection, helps the cell maintain its shape, and prevents dehydration.
Capsule: enables the cell to attach to surfaces in its environment. Some prokaryotes have
flagella, pili, or fimbriae.
• Flagella are used for locomotion,
• Pili are used to exchange genetic material during a type of reproduction called conjugation.
Characteristics EUKARYOTES
• Appeared approximately one billion years ago .
• Generally more advanced than prokaryotes .
More complex internal structure .
• Nuclear membrane surrounds linear genetic
material
• (DNA) .
• several different parts .
• Coverings known as cell membranes.
• Larger than prokaryotes in size.
Eukaryotic cell parts
• Cell membrane: Outer covering
• Nucleus: membrane-bound nucleus contains Genetic material .
• Chromosomes: Structure of nucleic acids and protein which carry genetic information in
the form of genes.
• Mitochondria: powerhouse of the cell.
• Endoplasmic reticulum :
• may be smooth :builds lipids and carbohydrates
• may be rough: stores proteins made by attached
ribosomes
• Golgi Complex:
• takes in sacs of raw material from RR
• sends out sacs containing finished cell products
• Lysosomes:
• sacs filled with digestive enzymes
• digest worn out cell parts
• digest food absorbed by cell
SIMILARITIES BETWEEN
PROKARYOTIC AND EUKARYOTIC
• Both the cells have cell membrane .
• Both types of cells have ribosome .
• Both types of cells have DNA.
• Both types of cells have a liquid environment known as the
cytoplasm.
 Difference between prokaryotic and
eukaryotic
Prokaryotes Eukaryotes
• Unicellular • Either unicellular or multicellular
• Cell wall is generally present • Cell wall can be present or
• DNA is circular absent
• Nucleus is absent • Nucleus is always present
• Mitochondria are absent • DNA is linear
• Mitochondria are generally
present