Comparison Between Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells
| ||
 |  | |
Characteristic
|
Prokaryotes
|
Eukaryotes
|
| Size of cell | Typically 0.2-2.0 m m in diameter | Typically 10-100 m m in diameter |
| Nucleus | No nuclear membrane or nucleoli (nucleoid) | True nucleus, consisting of nuclear membrane & nucleoli |
| Membrane-enclosed organelles | Absent | Present; examples include lysosomes, Golgi complex, endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria & chloroplasts |
| Flagella | Consist of two protein building blocks | Complex; consist of multiple microtubules |
| Glycocalyx | Present as a capsule or slime layer | Present in some cells that lack a cell wall |
| Cell wall | Usually present; chemically complex (typical bacterial cell wall includes peptidoglycan) | When present, chemically simple |
| Plasma membrane | No carbohydrates and generally lacks sterols | Sterols and carbohydrates that serve as receptors present |
| Cytoplasm | No cytosketeton or cytoplasmic streaming | Cytoskeleton; cytoplasmic streaming |
| Ribosomes | Smaller size (70S) | Larger size (80S); smaller size (70S) in organelles |
| Chromosome (DNA) arrangement | Single circular chromosome; lacks histones | Multiple linear chromosomes with histones |
| Cell division | Binary fission | Mitosis |
| Sexual reproduction | No meiosis; transfer of DNA fragments only (conjugation) | Involves meiosis |
- Concept 1-4 & Self Quiz
