NECITAS B.

CABILLON
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Module 2 Prokaryotic vs. Eukaryotic Cell

Prokaryotes are simple, small cells, whereas eukaryotic cells are complex, large structured and are present in
trillions which can be single celled or multicellular. Prokaryotic cells do not have a well-defined nucleus but DNA
molecule is located in the cell, termed as nucleoid, whereas eukaryotic cells have a well-defined nucleus, where genetic
material is stored. Based on the structure and functions, cells are broadly classified as Prokaryotic cell and Eukaryotic
cell.
Prokaryotic Cells are the most primitive kind of cells and lack few features as compared to the eukaryotic cell.
Eukaryotic cells have evolved from prokaryotic cells only but contain different types of organelles like Endoplasmic
reticulum, Golgi body, Mitochondria etc., which are specific in their functions. But features like growth, response, and
most importantly giving birth to the young ones are the commonly shared by all living organisms.
In the following content, we will discuss the general difference between the two types of cells. As these ‘cells’
are considered as the structural and functional unit of life, whether it’s a single cell organism like bacteria, protozoa, or
multicellular organisms like plants and animals.

COMMON MISTAKES AND MISCONCEPTIONS

Eukaryotes can be unicellular- Many people think that eukaryotes are all multicellular, but this is not the case.
While prokaryotes are always unicellular organisms, eukaryotes can be either unicellular or multicellular. For example,
most protists are single celled eukaryotes.
Even though prokaryotes do not have a nucleus, they DO contain genetic information. Prokaryotes generally
have single circular chromosomes where they store their genetic information.
Though they sound negative, bacteria are very important, though they cause diseses they also play significant
roles which are beneficial for mankind. Some of these roles are the following:
a. Decomposers
b. Ancient producer of oxygen
c. Aids in digestion
d. Help in Nitrogen Cycle
e. Vector for genetic engineering purposes

Bacteria are classified under prokaryotic organism. It is separated from plants and animals which have
eukaryotic cell for several reasons. Read the selection below and be ready to differentiate prokaryotic from eukaryotic
organism.

Notes to the Teacher

Assist their students in correcting their own misconceptions.

CHARACTETISTICS OF PROKARYOTIC CELLS

Pro means ‘old,’ and karyon means ‘nucleus,’ So as the name suggest the history of the evolution of prokaryotic
cells is at least 3.5 billion years old, but they are still important to us in many aspects like they are used in industries for
fermentation (Lactobacillus, Streptococcus), for research work, etc. In comparison to eukaryotic cells, they lack few
organelles and are not advanced as eukaryotes.

Generalized structure of Prokaryotic cell consists of the following:

a. Glycocalyx: This layer function as a receptor, the adhesive also
provide protection to the cell wall.
b. Nucleoid: It is the location of the genetic material (DNA), large
DNA molecule is condensed into the small packet.
c. Pilus: Hair like hollow attachment present on the surface of
bacteria, and is used to transfers of DNA to other cells during cell-
cell adhesion.
d. Mesosomes: It is the extension of the cell membrane, unfolded
into the cytoplasm their role is during the cellular respiration.
e. Flagellum: Helps in movement, attached to the basal body of the
cell.
f. Cell Wall: It provides rigidity and support for the cell.
g. Fimbriae: Helps in attachment to the surface and other bacteria
while mating. These are small hair-like structure.
h. Inclusion/Granules: It helps in storage of carbohydrates,
glycogen, phosphate, fats in the form of particles which can be used
when needed.
i. Ribosomes: Tiny particles which help in protein synthesis.
j. Cell membrane: Thin layer of protein and lipids, surrounds cytoplasm and regulate the flow of materials inside and
outside the cells.
k. Endospore: It helps cell in surviving during harsh conditions. In terms of peptidoglycan present in the cell wall,
prokaryotes can be divided into Gram-positive and Gram -negative bacteria. The former contains a large amount of
peptidoglycan in their cell wall while the latter have the thin layer.
CHARACTERISTICS OF EUKARYOTIC CELLS
Eu means ‘new,’ and karyon means ‘nucleus,’ so these are the advanced type of cells found in plant, animals, and fungi.
Eukaryotic cells have a well-defined nucleus and different organelles to perform different functions within the cell,
though working is complex to understand.

This kind of cells are found in algae, fungi, protozoa, plants, and animals and can be single-celled, colonial or
multicellular. Among them, fungi and protists (algae and protozoa) are the major kingdoms.
The general structure of Eukaryotic cells contain:
a. Nucleus: Eukaryotic cells have a well-defined nucleus where DNA (genetic material) is stored, it helps in the
production of protein synthesis and ribosomes also. The chromosome is present inside the nucleus, which is surrounded
by the nuclear envelope. It is a bi-lipid layer and controls the passage of ions and molecules.
b. Cytoplasm: It is the location where other organelles are located, and other metabolic activities of the cell also take
place here.
c. Mitochondria: It is called ‘the powerhouse of the cell,’ and is responsible for making ATP. Mitochondria has its own
DNA and ribosomes.
d. Chloroplast: These are found in algae and plants, it is one of the most important organelles in the plant which helps in
converting energy sunlight into chemical energy through photosynthesis. They resemble mitochondria.
e. Golgi body: It consists of a stack of many flattened, disc-shaped sacs known as cisternae. The exact nature of Golgi
varies, but it helps in the packaging of materials and in secreting them.
f. Lysosomes and Vacuoles – The most important function of Endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus is the synthesis
of g. Lysosomes, which helps in digestion of intracellular molecules with the help of the enzyme called hydrolase.
g. Vacuoles are the membrane-bound cavities containing fluid as well as solid materials, and they engulf materials
through endocytosis.

h. Endoplasmic Reticulum: It transport lipids, proteins, and other materials through the cell. They are of two types of
smooth endoplasmic reticulum and rough endoplasmic reticulum.
i. Appendages: Cilia and Flagella are locomotory attachments, helps in the movement of a cell towards positive stimuli.
Cilia are shorter than flagella and numerous.
j. Cell Wall: Cell Wall provides shapes, rigidity, and support to the cell. Compositions of the cell wall may vary of different
organisms but which can be of either cellulose, pectin, chitin or peptidoglycan.
k. Cytoplasmic Membrane/Plasma Membrane: It is a thin semipermeable, surrounding the cytoplasm, it acts as the
barrier of the cell which regulates entry and exit of the substances inside and outside the cell. This layer is made up of
two layers of phospholipids embedded with proteins. In Plant cell, this layer is present below the cell wall whereas in the
Animal cell it is the outermost layer.
l. Ribosomes: Though small in size but are present in numbers, they help in protein synthesis. Eukaryotes have 80S
ribosomes which are further divided into two subunits which are 40S and 60S (S stands for Sedverg unit).
m. Cytoskeleton: It is supporting framework of the cells, which is of two types Microtubules and Microfilaments.
Microtubules have a diameter of about 24 nanometers (nm), made up of a protein called tubulin, while Microfilaments
has a diameter of 6nm, made of the protein called actin. Microtubules are the largest filament and Microfilament  the
smallest one.

Difference between Prokaryotic Cells and Eukaryotic Cells

KEY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PROKARYOTIC CELLS AND EUKARYOTIC CELLS

Following are the substantial difference between Prokaryotic Cells and Eukaryotic Cell:
1. Prokaryotic cells are the primitive kind of cell, whose size varies from 0.5-3µm, they are generally found in
single-cell organisms, while Eukaryotic cells are the modified cell structure containing different components in it, their
size varies from 2-100µm, they are found in multicellular organisms.
2. Organelles like mitochondria, ribosomes, Golgi body, endoplasmic reticulum, cell wall, chloroplast, etc. are
absent in prokaryotic cells, while these organelles are found in eukaryotic organisms. Though cell wall and chloroplast
are not found in the animal cell, it is present in the green plant cell, few bacteria, and algae.
3. The main difference between Prokaryotic cells and the Eukaryotic cell is the nucleus, which is not well defined
in prokaryotes whereas it is well structured, compartmentalized and functional in eukaryotes.
4. Cell organelles are present which are membrane-bound and have individual functions in eukaryotic cells;
many organelles are absent in prokaryotic cells.
5. In prokaryotes, the cell division takes place through conjugation, transformation, and transduction but in
eukaryotes, it is through the process of cell division.
6. The process of transcription and translation occurs together, and there is a single origin of replication in the
prokaryotic cell. On the other hand, there are multiple origins of replication and transcription occurs in nucleus and
translation in the cytosol.
7. Genetic Material (DNA) is circular and double-stranded in Prokaryotes, but in Eukaryotes, it is linear and
double-stranded.
8. Prokaryotes reproduce asexually; commonly Prokaryotes have a sexual mode of reproduction.
9. Prokaryotes are the simplest, smallest and most abundantly found cells on earth; Eukaryotes are larger and
complex cells.

VENN TIME!
Direction: Construct a Venn diagram comparing prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell.

Characteristics BOTH Characteristics

Of ProkaryoticProkaryotic and Of Eukaryotic
Organisms Eukaryotic Organisms

YES OR NO TABLE

Direction: Complete the table below by writing Y for a Yes and N for a NO
Bacterial Cell Animal Cell Plant Cell All Cells
Cell membrane
Ribosome
Cytoplasm
Mitochondria
Nucleolus
Nucleus
DNA
Cell wall
Prokaryotic
Eukaryotic

What I Have Learned

1. Prokaryotic cells have no membrane bound organelles making their structure simple and unicellular.
2. The best example of prokaryotes are bacterial cell.
3. Eukaryotic cells have true nucleus that is why they have membrane bound organelles.
4. Their structure is multicellular and more complex, the examples are plant and animal cell.

What I Can Do
ANALOGY TIME
With as much detail as possible, give another example of an analogy for describing the difference between
prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. You can choose an analogy based on what you commonly observe at home, in the
school or in your community.

Assessment
Multiple Choice. Choose the letter of the best answer. Write the chosen letter on a separate sheet of paper.
1. The DNA of a eukaryotic cell can be found in the _______________.
a. Nucleoid region
b. Mitochondria
c. Nucleus
d. It has no DNA

2. What kingdoms are made up of prokaryotic cells?

a. Bacteria and Archaea
b. Bacteria and Animals
c. Animals and Plants
d. Bacteria and Plants

3. Which type of cell contains a cell membrane?

a. Prokaryote
b. Eukaryote
c. Both cell types contain a cell membrane
d. None of the Above

4. Which of the following is an example of the prokaryotic cell?

a. plant cell
b. animal cell
c. bacterial cell
d. eukaryotic

5. Which of the following statement is TRUE?

a. Eukaryotic cells do not have a nucleus, prokaryotic cells do
b. Prokaryotic cells came before eukaryotic cells
c. Eukaryotic cells are simple, prokaryotic cells are complex
d. Prokaryotic cells are bigger than eukaryotic cells

6. In a prokaryotic cell, the DNA is...

a. Wrapped around histone proteins
b. Contained in the nucleus
c. "naked" and "free-floating"
d. it has no DNA

7. Prokaryotic cells do not have a nucleus. What do they have in its place?
a. Plasmid
b. DNA
c. Chromatin
d. Nucleoid region

8. Which of the following would be examples of Eukaryotic cells

a. plants and bacteria
b. prokaryotic and animals
c. plants and animals
d. animals and bacteria

9. Prokaryotic cells do not have a nucleus. What do they have in its place?
a. Nucleolus
b. Nucleoid region
c. Deoxyribonucleic acid
d. Chromatin

10. Eukaryotes are

a. unicellular
b. multicellular
c. both
d. neither

11. Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells have many differences, but they also share some common features. Which of the
following may be found in either type of cell?
 a. Golgi bodies
b. Ribosomes
c. Mitochondria
d. Nucleus

12. Which of the following is not a difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells?
a. the size of the cells
b. The complexity of the cells
c. The age of the cell
d. Having a nucleus

13. A cell has a nucleus, is complex and large and has membrane bound organelles. What type of cell is this?
a. there is not enough information
b. Eukaryotic
c. Prokaryotic
d. Bacteria

14. A cell has circular DNA, is small and simple and no nucleus or membrane bound organelles. What type of cell is this?
a. Plant
b. Animals
c. Eukaryotic
d. Prokaryotic

15. A scientist finds a cell that is very old and very simple. This cell is probably a __________________________.
a. a plant cell
b. eukaryotic cell
c. prokaryotic cell
d. a new type of cell