A Comparison of Cells

Prokaryotic Cells Cell Membrane Cell Wall Eukaryotic Cells animal plant

Nucleus
Chromosomes Ribosomes Endoplasmic Reticulum Golgi Apparatus Lysosomes Vacuoles Mitochondria Chloroplasts Cytoskeleton

A Comparison of Cells
Prokaryotic Cells Yes Yes animal Yes No Cell Membrane Cell Wall

Eukaryotic Cells plant yes yes

Nucleus
Chromosomes Ribosomes

No
Yes (one circular strand) Yes (small)

Yes
Yes (many) Yes (large)

yes
Yes (many) yes

Endoplasmic Reticulum
Golgi Apparatus Lysosomes Vacuoles Mitochondria Chloroplasts Cytoskeleton

no
no no no no no no

Yes
Yes Yes Yes (small or none) Yes No yes

yes
yes no yes yes yes yes

Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells

Cellular Organization
Prokaryotic cells have a simple structural organization (no membrane-bound nucleus and no membrane-bound organelles) Eukaryotic cells exhibit compartmentalization (presence of membrane-bound nucleus and organelles) Prokaryotic cells can divide into two independent cells in as little as 15 minutes as compared with an 18-24 hr dividing time for eukaryotes.

Prokaryotic Cell Organization

Represented by cyanobacteria Bounded by a plasma membrane but has no other separate membranebound organelles. Do not possess mitochondria or chloroplasts Usually possess a cell wall which contains muramic acid

 Ribosomes are smaller than the ribosomes in eukaryotes Unable to take in materials unless they are soluble

Gene Structure and Organization

Eukaryotic Genes
DNA is not separated from the cytoplasm by a nuclear envelope DNA does not exists in multiple distinct chromosomes but in a single thread. Prokaryotic chromosomes exist as a covalently closed circular DNA structure completely lacking histones Distribution of DNA to daughter cells is very simple and doesnt require the elaborate mitotic process of the eukaryotic cell.

Chemical Composition
Prokaryotic cells do not have the complex lipids (sphingolipids, cerebrosides) found in eukaryotes Prokaryotic cell walls contain muramic acid while eukaryotic cell walls do not Eukaryotic membranes routinely contain cholesterol (and sterol) while no prokaryotic organisms can synthesize cholesterol.

Cellular Evolution

Current evidence indicates that eukaryotes evolved from prokaryotes between 1 and 1.5 billion years ago Two theories: 1. Infolding theory 2. Endosymbiotic theory

Infolding Theory
The infolding of the prokaryotic plasma membrane gave rise to eukaryotic organelles.

infolding

organelle

 Endosymbiosis refers to one species living within another(the host) Movement of smaller photosynthetic & heterotrophic prokaryotes into larger prokaryotic host cells Formed cell organelles
chloroplast

Endosymbiotic Theory

mitochondria

Endosymbiotic Theory