• Question: What Is The Difference Between Eukaryotic And Prokaryotic Cells?

    Asked by hszpytman to Chris, Kay, Kerstin, Lorna, Liv on 16 Mar 2010 in Categories: .
    • Photo: Kerstin Zechner

      Kerstin Zechner answered on 16 Mar 2010:

      There are quite a few differences. Eukaryotic cells are animal and plant cells, whereas prokaryotic cells are bacteria. In eukaryotes, the DNA is surrounded by a double membrane in a structure known as a nucleus, which isn’t present in bacteria. Another difference is the presence of mitochondria in eukaryotes. These produce the energy for the cell and prokaryotes don’t have these. Also, the chromosomes in prokaryotes are circular, whereas in eukaryotes they are linear. There are quite a few other differences, which I’m sure you can find in any good biology book 🙂

    • Photo: Kay Penicud

      Kay Penicud answered on 16 Mar 2010:

      Eukaryotic cells tend to be from animals and plants, prokaryotic cells from bacteria.

      The practical difference is that prok cells contain no non-nucleus membrane bound organelles (e.g. no mitochondria), but euk have them.

      Let me know if you don’t know what organelles, the nucleus and mitochondria are, I’ll explain more!

    • Photo: Olivia Hibbitt

      Olivia Hibbitt answered on 19 Mar 2010:

      Hey hszpytman,

      are you trying to get us to do your science homework for you?? Prokaryotes: simple single celled organisms like bacteria….very ancient! They have no nuclear membrane, no membrane bound organelles and a very simple internal structure Eukaryotes: these are more complex cells….there are some eukaryotic single celled organisms….all cells in multcellular organisms (like us) are eukaryotic. They recon these cells appeared around a billion years ago….they have a nuclear envelope, membrane bound organelles and a complex structure!

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