Question:

How is a prokaryotic cell different from a eukaryotic cell?

Updated On: Nov 20, 2023
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Prokaryotic Cell and Eukaryotic Cell

Prokaryotic cellEukaryotic cell
Cell size is generally small (1 - 10 \(\mu\)m).Cell is generally large (5 - 100 \(\mu\)m).
Nuclear region is called nucleoid and is not surrounded by a nuclear membrane.Nuclear material is surrounded by a nuclear membrane. 
Only a single chromosome is present.More than one chromosome is present.
Nucleolus is absent.Nucleolus is present.
Membrane bound cell organelles are absent.Membrane bound cell organelles.
Cell division by fission or budding (no mitosis).Cell division mitotic or meiotic. 
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Concepts Used:

Prokaryotic Cells

Prokaryotic cells are single-celled microorganisms known to be the earliest on earth. Prokaryotes include Bacteria and Archaea. The photosynthetic prokaryotes include cyanobacteria that perform photosynthesis.

A prokaryotic cell contains a single membrane and therefore, all the reactions occur within the cytoplasm. They can be free-living or parasites.

Characteristics of Prokaryotic Cell:

Prokaryotic cells have different characteristic features such as:

  1. Lack of a nuclear membrane.
  2. Absence of Mitochondria, Golgi bodies, chloroplast, and lysosomes.
  3. Presence of genetic material on a single chromosome.
  4. Lack of histone proteins in the constituents of eukaryotic chromosomes.
  5. The cell wall is made up of carbohydrates and amino acids.
  6. The plasma membrane acts as the mitochondrial membrane carrying respiratory enzymes.