The cells are the main basement for a living organism. There are two types of cells we already know it and here in this article the major 30+ differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells are discussed below.
Prokaryotic Cell VS Eukaryotic Cell
The cell is the building block of an organism. It is the functional unit as well as a structural unit of an individual organism. The cells are capable of the formation of tissues, organs, organ systems of the living body. Without a cell, the living organism does not carry out its functions. It provides necessary structural support and functions. The cells are of two types based on the presence or absence of a nucleus and some membrane-bound organelles. They are
1. Prokaryotic cell
2. Eukaryotic cell
Prokaryotic cell
The word is derived from the Greek word. Pro means ‘before’ and karyon means ‘nucleus’. As the word itself depicts prokaryotic cell is the primitive cell. It is found in the primitive kingdoms Bacteria and Archaea. There is the absence of the nucleus but there is the presence of nucleoid.
Prokaryotes
The organisms having prokaryotic cells are defined as Prokaryotes.
Eukaryotic cell
It is also derived from the Greek word where Eu refers to ‘true’ and Karyon means ‘nucleus’. It can be defined as cells having a true nucleus. And these are advanced than the primitive prokaryotic cells. They are also having membrane-bound organelles.
Eukaryotes
These are the organisms that are having the eukaryotic cells are known as Eukaryotes.
Major 30+ differences between Prokaryotic cell and Eukaryotic cell
Prokaryotic Cell
- The size is 0.1 – 5.0μm
- The cell possesses a one-envelope system
- Cell wall contains mucopeptide or peptidoglycan in some species.
- A typical nucleus is absent but a nucleoid or genophore is present
- DNA is generally circular. The DNA of nucleoid lies freely in the cytoplasm.
- DNA is naked i.e. without any association of histone proteins.
- DNA content is low.
- Nucleoid is similar to a single chromosome known as Prochromosome.
- Introns or non-essential intervening sequences are commonly absent in DNA, RNA, therefore, does not require splicing.
- Plasmids may be present.
- Cell membranes may have infoldings called mesosomes.
- The cell membrane is involved in separating replication products.
- During cell division, there is no formation of spindle apparatus.
- Flagella are smaller, 4-5μm x 12nm
- Flagella are single-stranded.
- Cyclosis is absent.
- Endocytosis and exocytosis are absent.
- Sap vacuoles are absent.
- To provide buoyancy and protection against intense radiation there is the presence of Gas vacuoles.
- Cytoplasm does not possess endoplasmic reticulum.
- Ribosomes are found in the cytoplasm and are also attached to plasmalemma.
- Ribosomes are the 70S.
- Thylakoids may be present freely in the cytoplasm.
- Mitochondria are absent.
- Respiratory enzymes occur attached to the plasm membrane.
- Golgi apparatus is absent.
- Lysosomes, sphearosomes and glyoxysomes are absent.
- Microtubules and microfilaments are rare.
- The centrosome is absent.
- Transcription occurs in the cytoplasm.
- Cell division does not show the distinction between interphase and M-phase.
- A diploid phase is absent. Only the haploid phase occurs.
- Sexual reproduction is absent.
- It may have pili or fimbriae.
Eukaryotic Cell
- The size is 5-100 μm
- The cell contains a two-envelope system.
- Cell wall contains cellulose. Peptidoglycan is absent
- The eukaryotic cell contains a typical nucleus made of the nuclear envelope, chromatin, nucleoplasm, nuclear matrix and nucleoli.
- DNA is present inside the nucleus. It is also found in mitochondria and plastids.
- DNA is commonly linear. However, circular does occur inside mitochondria and plastids.
- DNA is associated with histones.
- DNA content is comparatively quite high.
- The nucleus contains chromatin material of two or more chromosomes.
- Introns are quite common. RNA, therefore, requires splicing before becoming operational.
- Plasmids are rare.
- A mesosome like structure is generally absent.
- Cell membrane does not take part in separating replication products.
- During cell division, there is the formation of spindle apparatus.
- Flagella are longer, 150-200μm x 200nm.
- Flagella are 11 – stranded.
- A flagellum shows a distinction of axoneme and sheath.
- Cytoplasmic streaming or cyclosis is common.
- They occur in eukaryotic cells.
- Sap vacuoles are quite common.
- Gas vacuoles are absent.
- The endoplasmic reticulum is usually present.
- 80S Ribosomes occur in the cytoplasm. Organelle ribosomes are the 70S.
- Thylakoids occur inside chloroplasts.
- Mitochondria are often present.
- Respiratory enzymes occur in the cytoplasm and mitochondria.
- Golgi apparatus is present.
- They are usually present.
- The centrosome is present except in flowering plants and few others.
- Transcription occurs inside the nucleus.
- A distinction of I-Phase and M-phase occurs during the cell cycle.
- All sexually reproducing organisms have a distinction between diploid and haploid stages.
- It is commonly present.
- Pili and fimbriae are absent.