Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells?

Question

I have to write a story that describes the difference between eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells. I'm totally stumped on this. Can you possibly help me? Everything I've come up with sounds lame.

Answer 1

A story? Some homework you've got lumped up! I'll just help you with the differences. There's nothing else I can do.
Prokaryotic cells always have a call wall, unlike the eukaryotic ones. Eukaryotic cells have membrane-bound organelles unlike Prokaryotic cells.
Eukaryotic cells have a well defined nucleus, unlike Prokaryotic cells.
Prokaryotes are smaller than Eukaryotes.

Answer 2

Surely if you've been given this task, then your professor/teacher has also given you the basics to base your story on. This is a very fundamental topic of biology and will come up many more times down the road in such courses as: Microbiology, Molecular biology, Embryology, and even a little in Genetics; so make sure you become very clear on these differences and similarities. I'll list a few here, but make sure you go over your notes to get the specific details. P = prokaryote, E = Eukaryote.

1) All P's are single cell organisms. SOME E's are single cell, some are multicell.

2) Thus, ALL P's have cell walls. NOT all E's have cell walls.

3) E's have a true nucleus that houses there important genetic material such as DNA, chromatin (pre division), and chromosomes (during division). P's do NOT have a distinct nucleus, just a region of "nuclear" activity called the nucleolus.

4) One final point: ALL P's have one circular strand of DNA whereas E's can have several, linear strands of DNA.

Several more differences and similarities can be derived from what's been stated here. For example, based upon the difference in DNA structure of P's and E's, what differences would arise in the process of DNA replication from one to the other? This is a good place for your story to start. Now it's up to you to shape and fininsh it.

EDIT: One common misconception people seem to make is that all P's are single cell and bacteria, and all E's are multicell and animals. This is not true. For instance, yeast is a bacteria, it is a single cell organism, BUT it is also a Eukaryote. Be careful and be sure you are familiar with your information before turning it in.

Answer 3

Prokaryotic cells do not have a Nucleus, eukaryotic cells have a nucleus.

PRO= No
EU= Do

Answer 4

Prokaryotic - Bacteria - simple cells
Eukaryotic - Animals and Humans - complex cells
Look at the PBS.org website and the DiscoveryChannel website, they tend to have very good explainations of things with lots of graphics and video. Good luck.

Answer 5

Prokaryotic- example bacteria, single celled-no true nucleus, asexual, reproduce by binary fusion
Eukaryotic- true nucleus

Answer 6

Prokaryotes are very distinct from eukaryotes (meaning true kernel, also spelled "eucaryotes") because eukaryotes have true nuclei, while prokaryotes have nuclear material without being membrane bound, organisms that have cell nuclei and may be variously unicellular or multicellular. An example of an eukaryote would be a human. The difference between the structure of prokaryotes and eukaryotes is so great that it is considered to be the most important distinction among groups of organisms. Most prokaryotes are bacteria, and the two terms are often treated as synonyms. In 1977, Carl Woese proposed dividing prokaryotes into the Bacteria and Archaea (originally Eubacteria and Archaebacteria) because of the significant genetic differences between the two. This arrangement of Eukaryota (also called "Eukarya"), Bacteria, and Archaea is called the three-domain system replacing the traditional two-empire system.

The cell structure of prokaryotes differs greatly from eukaryotes in many ways. The defining characteristic is the absence of a nucleus or nuclear envelope. Prokaryotes also were previously considered to lack cytoskeletons and do lack membrane-bound cell compartments such as vacuoles, endoplasmic reticulum/endoplasmic reticula, mitochondria, Golgi bodies, and chloroplasts. In eukaryotes, the latter two perform various metabolic processes and are believed to have been derived from endosymbiotic bacteria. In prokaryotes similar processes occur across the cell membrane; endosymbionts are extremely rare. Prokaryotes also have cell walls, while some eukaryotes, particularly animals, do not. Both eukaryotes and prokaryotes have structures called ribosomes, which produce protein. Prokaryotes are usually much smaller than eukaryotic cells.

Taking into account membrane bound organelles, prokaryotes also differ from eukaryotes in that they contain only a single loop of DNA stored in an area named the nucleoid. The DNA of the eukaryote is found in the nucleus. Prokaryotic DNA also lacks the proteins found in eukaryotic DNA. Prokaryotes have a larger surface area to volume ratio. This gives the Prokaryotes a higher metabolic rate, a higher growth rate and thus a smaller generation time as compared to the Eukaryotes.


It is generally accepted that the first living cells were some form of prokaryote. Fossilized prokaryotes 3.5 billion years old have been discovered, and prokaryotes are perhaps the most successful and abundant organism even today. In contrast the eukaryote only appeared approximately 1.5 billion years ago. While Earth is the only known place where prokaryotes exist, some have suggested structures within a Martian meteorite should be interpreted as fossil prokaryotes; this is open to considerable debate and skepticism.

Prokaryotes diversified greatly throughout their long existence. The metabolism of prokaryotes is far more varied than that of eukaryotes, leading to many highly distinct types of prokaryotes. For example, in addition to using photosynthesis or organic compounds for energy like eukaryotes do, prokaryotes may obtain energy from inorganic chemicals such as hydrogen sulfide.

This has enabled the bacteria to thrive and reproduce. Today, archaebacteria can be found in the cold of Antarctica and in the hot Yellowstone springs.

A eukaryote (IPA: [juːˈkærɪɒt]) is an organism with a complex cell or cells, in which the genetic material is organized into a membrane-bound nucleus or nuclei. Eukaryotes (also spelled "eucaryotes") comprise animals, plants, and fungi—which are mostly multicellular—as well as various other groups that are collectively classified as protists (many of which are unicellular). In contrast, prokaryotes are organisms, such as bacteria and archaea, that lack nuclei and other complex cell structures. Eukaryotes share a common origin, and are often treated formally as a superkingdom, empire, or domain. In the domain system, eukaryotes have more in common with archaean prokaryotes than bacterial prokaryotes. The name comes from the Greek ευ, meaning good/true, and κάρυον, meaning nut, in reference to the cell nucleus.

Eukaryotic cells are generally much larger than prokaryotes. They have a variety of internal membranes and structures, called organelles, and a cytoskeleton composed of microtubules, microfilaments and intermediate filaments, which play an important role in defining the cell's organization and shape. Eukaryotic DNA is divided into several linear bundles called chromosomes, which are separated by a microtubular spindle during nuclear division. In addition to asexual cell division (mitosis), most eukaryotes have some process of sexual reproduction via cell fusion (meiosis), which is not found among prokaryotes.
Eukaryotic cells include a variety of membrane-bound structures, collectively referred to as the endomembrane system. Simple compartments, called vesicles or vacuoles, can form by budding off other membranes. Many cells ingest food and other materials through a process of endocytosis, where the outer membrane invaginates and then pinches off to form a vesicle. It is probable that most other membrane-bound organelles are ultimately derived from such vesicles.

The nucleus is surrounded by a double membrane (commonly referred to as a nuclear envelope), with pores that allow material to move in and out. Various tube- and sheet-like extensions of the nuclear membrane form what is called the endoplasmic reticulum or ER, which is involved in protein transport and maturation. It includes the Rough ER where ribosomes are attached, and the proteins they synthesize enter the interior space or lumen. Subsequently, they generally enter vesicles, which bud off from the Smooth ER. In most eukaryotes, this protein-carrying vesicles are released and further modified in stacks of flattened vesicles, called Golgi bodies or dictyosomes.

Vesicles may be specialized for various purposes. For instance, lysosomes contain enzymes that break down the contents of food vacuoles, and peroxisomes are used to break down peroxide which is toxic otherwise. Many protozoa have contractile vacuoles, which collect and expel excess water, and extrusomes, which expel material used to deflect predators or capture prey. In multicellular organisms, hormones are often produced in vesicles. In higher plants, most of a cell's volume is taken up by a central vacuole, which primarily maintains its osmotic pres


Hey search them wikipedia.I bet you'll choose me as your best answer by seeing the information of the cells.It is given in much detail there.