Differences between Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells

 

What are Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells?

 

Though these cells have much in common, there are also some distinct differences between these 2 types of cells. It is said that the differences between these two cell types are considered to be the most important among groups of living organisms, which isn't hard to believe considering majority of living organisms fall into either one of these categories. There are 3 distinct differences between the two: 

 

1) The presence of a nucleus-Prokaryotic cells, as its name hints (pro- before, karyotic- nucleus), does not have a nucleus to store its genetic information while eukaryotic cells do. Instead, it has the nucleotide, a region where the DNA is kept. 

 

2) Internal organisation- Eukaryotic cells are considered to be more advanced than prokaryotic cells as they have a more complex system and structure for their organelles while in prokaryotic cells, the organelles just float around and perform their duties. 

 

3) Size- there is quite a large size different between the two cell types. Eukaryotic cells and larger than prokaryotic cells with a range of 10 -100 micrometers for the diameter. Prokaryotic cells are significantly smaller, with a range of 1-10 micrometers for the diameter. 

 

 

In more depth, here is listing of the differences between the two cell types: 

 

PROKARYOTIC CELLS VS EUKARYOTIC CELLS

 

SIZE

Eukaryotic: Larger (10-100 um diameter)

Prokarytic: Smaller (1-10 um diameter)

 

PRESENCE OF A NUCLEUS

Eukaryotic: Yes

Prokarytic: No (nucleotide)

 

DNA ARRANGEMENT

Eukaryotic: Circular (enclosed in nucleus)

Prokaryotic: Linear (not separated)

 

PRESENCE AND NUMBER OF CHROMOSOMES

Eukaryotic: 

Prokaryotic:

Yes, more than one

Yes, although not really a chromosome and known as plasmids, there is only 1

 

GENETIC FUSION/RECOMBINATION

Eukaryotic: 

Prokaryotic:

Yes, through process of meiosis and gametes

Partial recombination through unidirectional transfer of DNA

 

PRESENCE OF CELL WALL

Eukaryotic: Only in plant cells and fungi (chemically simpler)

Prokaryotic: Present (chemically complex but is still )

 

ORGANISATION OF ORGANELLES IN THE CELL

Eukaryotic: Complex and high level of organisation in the cell

Prokaryotic: Little level of organisation

 

SPECIFIC TO EUKARYOTIC CELL 

SIZE

Plant: 10 - 30 micrometers

Animal: 10 - 100 micrometers

 

CELL WALL

Plant: Present, in the form of cellulose (rigid and strong)

Animal: Absent 

 

SHAPE

Plant: Structured, rectangular, illongated (stretched) shape which can tesselate to form stronger structures

Animal: Irregular, round shape for movement

 

VACUOLES

Plant: One large vacuole, taking up 90% of cell structure

Animal: One or more small vacuoles

 

SMOOTH AND ROUGH ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM

Plant: Present

Animal: Present

 

PLASMA MEMBRANE

Plant: Present (cell wall and cell membrane)

Animal: Present (cell membrane- flexible therefore irregular shape)

 

FLAGELLA

Plant: Can be found in some cells

Animal: Can be found in some cells

 

LYSOSOMES

Plant: Present (in the cytoplasm)

Animal: Occurs in some, not all

 

NUCLEUS

Plant: Present

Animal: Present

 

CILIA

Plant: Present in some, not in majority

Animal: Present

 

GOLGI APPARATUS

Plant: Present

Animal: Present

 

RIBOSOMES

Plant: Present

Animal: Present

 

MITOCHONDRIA

Plant: Present

Animal: Present

 

PLASTIDS

Plant: Absent

Animal: Present

 

MICROTUBULES/MICROFILAMENTS

Plant: Present

Animal: Present

 

MOVEMENT

Plant: Unable to due to the fixed structure

Animal: Able to due to its irregular shape

 

 

Image Bibliography

 

http://www.microscopemaster.com/images/08procaryote.jpg

 

http://people.eku.edu/ritchisong/301images/Cell_structure.jpg

 

Bibliography

 

Teacher’s Notes/ References

 

Crierie, Alan, and David Greig. Biology. 3rd ed. Adelaide: Adelaide Tuition Pty Ltd, 2016. Print.

 

Diffen.com, (2016). Eukaryotic Cell vs Prokaryotic Cell - Difference and Comparison | Diffen. [online] Available at: http://www.diffen.com/difference/Eukaryotic_Cell_vs_Prokaryotic_Cell [Accessed 22 Feb. 2016].

 

Nature.com, (2016). Eukaryotic Cells | Learn Science at Scitable. [online] Available at: http://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/eukaryotic-cells-14023963 [Accessed 22 Feb. 2016].

 

Cliffsnotes.com, (2016). The Structure of Prokaryote and Eukaryote Cells . [online] Available at: http://www.cliffsnotes.com/study-guides/biology/biology/the-biology-of-cells/prokaryote-and-eukaryote-cell-structure [Accessed 22 Feb. 2016].

 

Diffen.com, (2016). Plant Cell vs Animal Cell - Difference and Comparison | Diffen. [online] Available at: http://www.diffen.com/difference/Animal_Cell_vs_Plant_Cell [Accessed 22 Feb. 2016].

 

Sparknotes.com, (2016). SparkNotes: Cell Differences: Plant Cells. [online] Available at: http://www.sparknotes.com/biology/cellstructure/celldifferences/section1.rhtml [Accessed 24 Feb. 2016].

 

Hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu, (2016).Prokaryotic Cells. [online] Available at: http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/biology/prokar.html [Accessed 24 Feb. 2016].