Difference Between Prokaryotic And Eukaryotic Cells

Last Updated: Jul 9, 2023

Table of Contents

What is a Prokaryotic cell?
What is a Eukaryotic cell?
What Is The Difference Between Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells?

Recently, we explored the domain Eukarya, its history, kingdoms, and characteristics in detail. In this article, we will explore the difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.

The distinction between prokaryotes and eukaryotes is considered one of the most critical variations among groups of organisms.

What is a Prokaryotic cell?

Prokaryotes are single-cell organisms (unicellular) that do not contain organelles or any internal membrane structures. That means that they have a single chromosome and no nucleus, but instead, they have nucleoid (a circular container that has double-stranded DNA). These organisms belong to the domain Prokarya.

What is a Eukaryotic cell?

Eukaryotes are multi-cellular organisms containing a nucleus and other organelles encapsulated within membranes. From an organization perspective, they belong a domain Eukarya.

What Is The Difference Between Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells?

The table below summarizes their similarities as well as their differences.

	Prokaryotes	Eukaryotes
Origin	Around 3.5 billion years ago.	Around 2 billion years ago.
Size	0.1–5.0µm in diameter.	10-100µm in diameter.
Cellular Organization	Most are unicellular.	Most are multicellular.
Genetic Material	The genetic material (DNA) is suspended in the nucleoid.	The genetic material (DNA)is found in the nucleus.
Shape Of Genetic Material	DNA is circular.	DNA is linear and is packed with histone proteins.
Number Of Chromosomes	Only one.	Multiple chromosomes are present.
Nucleus	No nucleus.	Has a membrane bound nucleus.
Plasma Membrane	Made up of peptidoglycan.	Made up of phospholipids.
Cytoplasm	Has cytoplasm but does not contain Endoplasmic reticulum.	Has cytoplasm however Endoplasmic reticulum is usually present.
Golgi Apparatus	Golgi apparatus is a part of the endomembrane system within the cytoplasm – it is absent.	Present
Microtubules	Microtubules are filamentous intra-cellular structures that are responsible for various kinds of movements) and micro-filaments are very rare.	Microtubules are usually present.
Organelles	No organelles wrapped in membranes.	Has organelles wrapped in membranes (e.g., mitochondria, Golgi bodies, smooth and rough ER, vacuoles, etc.)
Cytoskeleton	Present	None
Glycocalyx	Present	Only in some.
Ribosomes	Made up of rRNA and proteins.	Made up of rRNA and proteins.
Flagella	Flagella is a lash-like appendage that protrudes from the cell body. They are smaller in Prokaryote cells.	Longer in Eukaryote cells.
Cell Wall Composition	Prokaryotic cell wall (e.g, bacteria) composed of mucopeptide (linear chains of alternating amino sugars) or peptidoglycan (polymer consisting of sugars and amino acids).	Eukaryote Cell wall is composed of cellulose; Peptidoglycan is absent.
Plasmids	Plasmids (a small DNA molecule within a cell and separated from a chromosomal DNA) happen.	Plasmids are uncommon in Eukaryote cells.
Mesosome	Cell membrane could contain an in-folding called mesosome (an organelle of bacteria that appears as an invagination of the plasma membrane).	Mesosome is absent in Eukaryotes.
Mitochondria	Mitochondria (Cellular respiration) are absent. Do Prokaryotes Have Mitochondria? Refer to this detailed post.	Mitochondria are often present.
Endocytosis / Exocytosis	Endocytosis (active transport mechanism in which a cell transports proteins “into” the cell) and Exocytosis (active transport mechanism in which a cell transports proteins “out of” the cell) are absent.	Both present.
Cyclosis	Cyclosis is the movement of protoplasm within a cell; it is absent.	Present
Fimbriae	Prokaryotes may have pili and fimbriae (appendages that can be found on many Gram-negative and some Gram-positive bacteria).	Absent
Transcription	Transcription is the second step of gene expression where particular section of DNA is copied into RNA); it occurs in the cytoplasm for prokaryote cells.	Transcription occurs inside the nucleus for eukaryote cells.
Lysosmes / Sphaerosomes / Glyoxysomes	Lysosmes (membrane-bound organelle), Sphaerosomes (small cell organelles present in the cytoplasm) and Glyoxysomes (found in plants – fat-storing tissues of germinating seeds) are absent.	Present
Centrosome	Absent	Present except in flowering plants. See the comparison of Centrosome vs Centriole.
Asexual Reproduction	Possible through binary fission.	Possible through mitosis.
Examples	Bacteria	Animals, plants, fungi, rhizarians chromoalveolates, and excavates.