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Differences between Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes
Here are some of the differences:
| S.N. | Character | Prokaryotes | Eukaryotes |
| 1. | Term Origin | Greek for “primitive
nucleus” |
Greek
for “true nucleus” |
| 2. | Definition | Organisms made up of cell(s) that lack a cell nucleus or any membrane-encased organelles. | Organisms made up of cells that possess a membrane-bound nucleus as well as membrane-bound organelles. |
| 3. | Major groups | Bacteria, Archae, and Bluegreen algae | Algae, fungi, protozoa, plants, animals |
| 4. | Origin | Around 3.5 billion years ago. | Around 2 billion years ago. |
| 5. | Size (approximate) | 0.5-3.0 μm | >5 μm |
| 6. | Cell Type | Usually unicellular (some cyanobacteria may be multicellular) | Usually multicellular |
| 7. | Complexity | Simple | Complex organization. |
| 8. | Nucleus Location | Free in the cytoplasm, attached to mesosomes | Contained in membrane bound structure |
| 9. | Nucleur membrane | No nuclear membrane. | Classic membrane present. |
| 10. | Nucleolus | Absent | Present |
| 11. | Chromosome number | One | More than one |
| 12. | Chromosome shape | Circular | Linear |
| 13. | Genes | Expressed in groups called operons. | Expressed individually |
| 14. | Genome | DNA haploid genome | DNA diploid genome |
| 15. | DNA base ratio (G+C %) | 28-73 | About 40 |
| 16. | DNA wrapping on proteins | Multiple proteins act together to fold and condense prokaryotic DNA. Folded DNA is then organized into a variety of conformations that are supercoiled and wound around tetramers of the HU protein. | Eukaryotes wrap their DNA around proteins called histones. |
| 17. | Genome nature | Efficient and compact with little repetitive DNA. | With large amounts of non-coding repetitive DNA. |
| 18. | Membrane-bound organelles | Absent | Present |
| 19. | Ribosomes (sedimentation coefficient) | 70S (50S + 30S).Smaller. | 80S (60S + 40S). Larger. |
| 20. | Ribosome’s location | Free in cytoplasm or bound
to cell membrane |
Attached to rough endoplasmic
reticulum |
| 21. | Mitochondria | Absent | Present |
| 22. | Golgi bodies | Absent | Present |
| 23. | Endoplasmic reticulum | Absent | Present |
| 24. | Mesosomes | Present. Performs the function of Golgi bodies and mitochondria and also help in the separation of chromosome during cell division. | Absent |
| 25. | Lysosomes | Absent | Present |
| 26. | Peroxisomes | Absent | Present |
| 27. | Chloroplasts
|
Absent; chlorophyll scattered in the cytoplasm | Present (in plants) |
| 28. | Fimbriae | Prokaryotes may have pili and fimbriae (appendage that can be found on many Gram-negative and some Gram-positive bacteria). | Absent |
| 29. | Microtubules | Absent or rare | Present |
| 30. | Centrosome | Absent | Present except in flowering plants. |
| 31. | Cytoskeleton | May be absent | Present |
| 32. | Glycocalyx | Present | Only in some |
| 33. | Cytoplasmic streaming | Absent | Present |
| 34. | Cytoplasmic membrane | Does not contain sterols (except Mycoplasma) | Contains sterols |
| 35. | Cell wall | Complex structure containing protein, lipids, and peptidoglycans | Present for plant cells and fungi; otherwise absent |
| 36. | Muramic acid | Present | Absent |
| 37. | Movement | Simple flagellum, if present | Complex flagellum, if present |
| 38. | Respiration | Via cytoplasmic membrane | Via mitochondria |
| 39. | Energy production site | Electron transport chain located in the cell
membrane |
Within membrane bound
mitochondria |
| 40. | Metabolic rate | Higher due to larger surface area to volume ratio | Comparatively slow |
| 41. | Reproduction | Asexual (binary fission) | Sexual and asexual/ Mitotic division |
| 42. | Generation time | Shorter | Comparatively longer |
| 43. | Genetic Recombination | Partial, unidirectional transfer | Meiosis and fusion of gametes |
| 44. | Zygote | Merozygotic (partially diploid) | Diploid |
| 45. | Extrachromosomal
DNA |
Plasmid | Inside the
mitochondria |
| 46. | DNA replication | Occurs in cytoplasm. | Occurs in the nucleus. |
| 47. | Transcription and translation | Occurs simultaneously. | Transcription occurs in nucleus and then translation occurs in cytoplasm. |
References
- Murray, Patrick R. (2016). Medical Microbiology.Eighth edition. India: Elsevier Inc.
- Parija S.C. (2012). Textbook of Microbiology & Immunology.(2 ed.). India: Elsevier India.
- https://www.diffen.com/difference/Eukaryotic_Cell_vs_Prokaryotic_Cell
- http://www.microbiologynotes.com/differences-between-prokaryotic-and-eukaryotic-cells/
- https://www.bioexplorer.net/difference-between-prokaryotic-and-eukaryotic-cells.html/
Differences between Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes
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