Prokaryotes Vs. Eukaryotes

• There are two types of cells: Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes.
• Prokaryotic cells are smaller and simpler, they reproduce asexually, they are unicellular, and they lack a true nucleus meaning they have free floating DNA. An example of a prokaryote is bacteria.
• Eukaryotic cells are larger and more complex, they reproduce both sexually and asexually, they are both unicellular and multicellular, and they have a true nucleus and membrane bound organelles. Examples of Eukaryotic cells are protists, plants, animals, and fungi.
• Cells are categorized depending on whether they have a nucleus.
• Pro-Karyon means ’before-nucleus’
• Eu-Kayron means ‘True-Nucleus’
• Scientists believe that prokaryotes evolved before the nucleus which explains why prokaryotic cells don’t have a nucleus while eukaryotic cells do.
• This is an animal cell:

  
• This is an animal cell:

  
• This is a plant cell:

  
• This is a plant cell:

  
• This is a prokayotic cell:

  
• This is a Prokayotic cell:

  
• Plant cells (and only plant cells) have a central vacuole. This vacuole is a large, long term storage used to hold water. The central vacuole is permanent.
• Normal vacuoles are sometimes found in eukaryotic cells and prokaryotic cells. They are much smaller than a central vacuole and are used for temporary storage. They aren’t permanent And only form when needed.
• Each Eukaryotic cell is divided into 2 parts; The nucleus and cytoplasm
• Since prokaryotic cells don’t have a true nucleus, they have free floating DNA. The DNA floats freely in the cytoplasm and is not separated from the rest of the cell by a membrane.
• Eukaryotic cells have a nucleus so the DNA is contained inside separate from the rest of the cell.