Prokaryotes vs Eukaryotes general biology PDF

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Prokaryotes vs Eukaryotes The building block of life or as it is commonly known as “cell”. Every single living organism is composed of cells, the smallest units of life. The magnitude of cells differs between 1 and 100 micrometres (μm), which causes them to be observed only by using a microscope. Every species have different amount of cells, there are approximately 80 billion of cells just in our brains. Every cell does not function in the same way or is used by organisms for same purpose. There are many different type of cells in nature but basically we differ them into two types; prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. There are many differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells but the main difference between them is the existence of membrane-bound nucleus. To begin explaining the differences, the definition of a term, organelle, should be given first. In cytology (cell biology) organelles refer to the subunits of cells; every type organelle has different functions. Nucleus is a type of organelle, probably the most important one, and it is found in eukaryotic cells only. Nucleus contains the genetic material which functions to pass the several instructions from one generation to the next. Since the prokaryotic cells are lack of nucleus, they contain their genetic material in the cytoplasm (substance that covers every inner part of a cell, in eukaryotes every part except nucleus). Nucleus is also responsible from growth of the cell and reproduction. Besides the existence of nucleus, eukaryotic cells have many different organelles that are absent in prokaryotic cells. Mitochondria would be a good choice to start with; it generates the energy that is needed in eukaryotic cells. Then there is endoplasmic reticulum, which synthesizes carbohydrates and lipids. Eukaryotic cells have some products that need to be stored, shipped and produced, responsible organelle with this function is golgi apparatus, again it is absent in prokaryotes. Another organelle that prokaryotic cells do not have is lysosome. Lysosome’s function is to

digest several macromolecules. Eukaryotic cells in plants have an organelle called chloroplast that is responsible for photosynthesis, however in prokaryotic cells that are able to make photosynthesis there is chlorophyll. Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells have a common organelle, called ribosome but ribosome of eukaryotes are bigger than the ones in prokaryotes.

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Besides different of organelles they have, there is more difference. Such as the way they reproduce. Binary fission is a process that is used by prokaryotic cells to replicate themselves. At the end of this process two cells are produced that are identical to the parent cell, since there is one parent cell (asexual reproduction) there is no diversity. Eukaryotes are also capable of asexual reproduction called mitosis also some eukaryotic cells can make sexual reproduction. Way of reproduction is not the last difference between eukaryotes and prokaryotes. Eukaryotic cells are bigger than prokaryotic cells, they have semi-permeable nuclear membrane, and prokaryotic cells do not have one. Also it can be said that prokaryotes are much more primitive than eukaryotes. While prokaryotic cells are unicellular (consisting of single cell, e.g. bacteria), eukaryotic cells can be multicellular too (more than one cell, e.g. plants and animals). Eukaryotes and prokaryotes have many differences but they have common specialities too. Such as they both have genetic material and chromosome, they store, replicate and

transmit their hereditary information and both types of cells have ribosomes. Finally both cells are fundamentals and smallest units of life.

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Sources: 

https://www.thoughtco.com/facts-about-cells-373372

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https://www.diffen.com/difference/Eukaryotic_Cell_vs_Prokaryotic_Cell

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cell_(biology)

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prokaryote

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eukaryote

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cell_nucleus

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organelle

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http://home.ku.edu.tr/~okeskin/Biol200/biol-lecture2.pdf

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https://byjus.com/biology/the-nucleus/

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https://www.reference.com/science/genetic-material-200aeb1f94ebf910

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https://www.britannica.com/science/cytoplasm

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https://differences.info/prokaryotic-vs-eukaryotic-cells/ (image: 1)

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https://www.sciencetopia.net/biology/eukaryotic-cell-structure-andreproduction (image: 2)...