Key insights

• ⚫ Prokaryotic cells are smaller and simpler than eukaryotic cells.
• ⚫ Prokaryotic cells lack a nucleus, but have a nucleoid region for DNA.
• ⚫ Prokaryotes have no membrane-bound organelles and have a cell wall surrounding the plasma membrane.
• ⚫ Prokaryotes can have different cell wall compositions and flagella for movement.
• ⚪ Eukaryotic cells have a membrane-bound nucleus and organelles.
• ⚪ Eukaryotic cells are larger and more complex than prokaryotic cells.
• ⚪ Eukaryotic cells can be single-celled or multicellular, while prokaryotes are single-celled.
• ⚪ Eukaryotic cells have linear chromosomes, while prokaryotes have a single circular chromosome.

Q&A

• How do prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells differ in terms of size and complexity?

  Prokaryotic cells are small and relatively simple, lacking a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles, while eukaryotic cells are larger and much more complex internally, with a nucleus and organelles. Prokaryotes are also single-celled, while eukaryotes can be single-celled or multicellular. Additionally, prokaryotes have single circular chromosomes, whereas eukaryotes have linear chromosomes.

• What are the commonalities between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells?

  Both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells share commonalities in terms of genetic material (DNA), ribosomes, cytoplasm, and plasma membrane.

• What does 'prokaryote' and 'eukaryote' mean?

  The term 'prokaryote' means 'before nucleus,' indicating the absence of a nucleus in these cells. On the other hand, 'eukaryote' means 'true nucleus,' signifying the presence of a membrane-bound nucleus in these cells.

• What distinguishes prokaryotic cells from eukaryotic cells?

  Prokaryotic cells lack a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles, have a simple structure allowing for rapid reproduction, and their DNA is located in the nucleoid region. They also have a cell wall surrounding the plasma membrane. In contrast, eukaryotic cells have a membrane-bound nucleus and organelles.

• What are the two major types of cells on Earth?

  The two major types of cells on Earth are prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Prokaryotic cells are smaller, simpler, and were the only form of life on Earth for billions of years before eukaryotic cells emerged.

• 00:05 Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells are the two major types of cells on Earth. Prokaryotic cells are smaller, simpler, and older than eukaryotic cells.
• 00:38 Prokaryotic cells have a simple structure without a nucleus, allowing for rapid reproduction.
• 01:09 Prokaryotes have no nucleus, membrane-bound organelles, and their DNA is located in the nucleoid region. They also have a cell wall surrounding the plasma membrane.
• 01:44 The cell wall composition varies between archaeans and bacteria, while prokaryotes have flagella for movement. Eukaryotic cells have a membrane-bound nucleus and organelles, with the name 'eukaryote' meaning 'true nucleus.'
• 02:19 Comparing prokaryotic cells to eukaryotic cells reveals commonalities in genetic material, ribosomes, cytoplasm, and plasma membrane.
• 02:53 Prokaryotic cells are small and simple, while eukaryotic cells are larger and more complex. Prokaryotes lack nucleus and membrane-bound organelles, while eukaryotes have them. Prokaryotes are single-celled, while eukaryotes can be single-celled or multicellular. Prokaryotes have single circular chromosomes, while eukaryotes have linear chromosomes.