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Cellular Biology: Prokaryotes vs. Eukaryotes

Prokaryotes are unicellular organisms that lack a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles, while eukaryotes are generally more complex cells that contain a nucleus surrounded by a nuclear membrane and various membrane-bound organelles. Key differences include prokaryotes having no nucleus or organelles while eukaryotes have these structures. Examples of prokaryotes include various bacteria while eukaryotes range from single-celled organisms like paramecium to multicellular organisms like humans. It is proposed that the first eukaryotic cells arose from a primitive bacterium being engulfed and then forming an endosymbiotic relationship with its host cell.

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45 views8 pages

Cellular Biology: Prokaryotes vs. Eukaryotes

Prokaryotes are unicellular organisms that lack a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles, while eukaryotes are generally more complex cells that contain a nucleus surrounded by a nuclear membrane and various membrane-bound organelles. Key differences include prokaryotes having no nucleus or organelles while eukaryotes have these structures. Examples of prokaryotes include various bacteria while eukaryotes range from single-celled organisms like paramecium to multicellular organisms like humans. It is proposed that the first eukaryotic cells arose from a primitive bacterium being engulfed and then forming an endosymbiotic relationship with its host cell.

Uploaded by

abu imaan
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Cellular Biology

Prokaryotes vs. Eukaryotes

Prokaryote

Prokaryotes are unicellular organisms, found in all


environments. Prokaryotes are the largest group of
organisms, mostly due to the vast array of bacteria
which comprise the bulk of the prokaryote classification.

Characteristics:
No nuclear membrane
No membrane-bound organelles
Simple internal structure
Most primitive type of cell (appeared about four billion
years ago)
Examples:
Staphylococcus
Escherichia coli (E. coli)
Streptococcus

Eukaryote

Eukaryotes are generally more advanced than prokaryotes. There are many
unicellular organisms which are eukaryotic, but all cells in multicellular
organisms are eukaryotic.

Characteristics:
Nuclear membrane surrounding genetic material
Numerous membrane-bound organelles
Complex internal structure
Appeared approximately one billion years ago
Examples:
Paramecium
Dinoflagellates
sapiens
It is hypothesized that a primitive bacterium once surrounded its food after
releasing its digestive enzymes. The membrane folded inward and pinched
off, creating the first digestive membrane-bound organelle.

Prokaryotes are the earliest and simplest


cells on Earth. Eukaryotes are more modern
cells. All the cells described so far are
eukaryotic.
In prokaryotes, there is no nucleus and
genetic material floats freely in the
cytoplasm. Prokaryotes also lack all the other
organelles except for cell walls and
ribosomes.

Once upon a time (about one billion years ago), the first eukaryotic cell
came to be. There was a group of primitive bacteria going about their
business when along came a big hungry phagocyte, who ate one of the
bacterium.
Mr. Phagocyte: Yum.
Bacterium: Excuse me.
Mr. Phagocyte: What?
Bacterium: You know, why don't we join forces and I can help you and
you can help me and we can become a 'eukaryotic' cell? Whaddaya say?
Mr. Phagocyte: OK.
The little engulfed bacterium evolved and became the mitochondria in
present-day cells.
Obviously, they all lived happily ever after.

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