Direct comparison
Prokaryotic vs eukaryotic
Prokaryotic cells have no nucleus and are small and simple; eukaryotic cells have a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles.
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Side-by-side comparison
| Dimension | Prokaryotic cell | Eukaryotic cell |
|---|---|---|
| Nucleus | Absent — DNA floats free in the cytoplasm. | Present — DNA is held inside a nucleus. |
| Membrane-bound organelles | Absent (no mitochondria, no chloroplasts). | Present (mitochondria, and chloroplasts in plants). |
| Size | Small, typically 1–5 micrometres. | Larger, typically 10–100 micrometres. |
| Examples | Bacteria and archaea. | Animals, plants, fungi and protists. |
| DNA shape | A single circular loop, plus small plasmids. | Several linear chromosomes. |
| Complexity | Simple internal structure. | Complex, compartmentalised structure. |
| Single or many cells | Almost always single-celled. | Single-celled or multicellular. |
| Cell wall | Usually present, made of peptidoglycan. | Present in plants and fungi; absent in animals. |
The key word is "nucleus"
The names give the difference away. The Greek root karyon means "kernel" or "nucleus": pro-karyotic means "before a nucleus" and eu-karyotic means "true nucleus". A prokaryotic cell has no nucleus, so its single loop of DNA sits loose in the cytoplasm. A eukaryotic cell wraps its DNA inside a nuclear membrane and also packages other jobs into membrane-bound organelles, such as mitochondria for releasing energy. This compartment-building lets eukaryotic cells grow larger and more complex, and is what made multicellular life — plants and animals — possible. All bacteria are prokaryotic; everything you can see with the naked eye is built from eukaryotic cells.
Common questions
FAQ
What is the main difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells?+
The main difference is the nucleus. Eukaryotic cells keep their DNA inside a membrane-bound nucleus and have other membrane-bound organelles; prokaryotic cells have no nucleus, so their DNA floats freely in the cytoplasm, and they lack such organelles. Prokaryotic cells are also much smaller and simpler.
Are bacteria prokaryotic or eukaryotic?+
Bacteria are prokaryotic. They have no nucleus, no mitochondria and no other membrane-bound organelles, and their genetic material is a single circular loop of DNA in the cytoplasm, often with small extra rings called plasmids. Archaea are also prokaryotic, while animals, plants, fungi and protists are eukaryotic.
Do prokaryotic cells have any organelles?+
Prokaryotic cells have ribosomes, which build proteins, but these are not membrane-bound. What they lack are membrane-bound organelles such as a nucleus, mitochondria and chloroplasts. So they are not entirely empty inside, but they have no internal compartments wrapped in membranes the way eukaryotic cells do.
Going deeper
