Cells

2 major types of cells

Prokaryotes
Prokaryotes Eukaryotes
Eukaryotes

Plants,
Plants, Fungi
Fungi Animals,
Animals, Humans,
Humans,
Bacteria
Bacteria etc.
etc.
 Similarities
Prokaryotic Cell Eukaryotic Cell
 Similarities
• Both prokaryotes and eukaryotes have DNA
(Deoxyribonucleic Acid).

• Both have a cell membrane (a layer of lipid (fat))

surrounding it to protect it from the outside
environment and control what comes in and out
of the cell.

• Both have similar things in them: carbohydrates,

proteins, nucleic acids, minerals, fats, and
vitamins.
 Some Differences
• Prokaryotes are OLD!!
– Scientists think they have been around for 3.5
BILLION years!
– Scientists say eukaryotes have only been around
for 1.5 billion years.
• Eukaryotes are much BIGGER!!
– In general, eukaryotes are about 10X bigger than
prokaryotes.
 Major DifferenceS
Prokaryotic Cell Eukaryotic Cell

No membrane bound organelles Has membrane bound organelles

 Role of the nucleus
• Almost all cells contain the genetic information
necessary for the cell (and entire organism—if it’s
composed of more than one cell) to survive. This
genetic information is DNA!
– Eukaryotes have separated this information from the
rest of the cell with a special membrane bound
organelle called a nucleus. (Eukaryote means “having
a true nucleus”.)
– Prokaryotes do NOT have this nucleus and their
genetic material is not separated from the rest of the
cell. (Prokaryote means “before a nucleus”.)
Prokaryotic Cell Eukaryotic Cell