Take a look around our world today and you’re bound to see a plethora of different creatures from plants, animals, and everything in between. There are even some that are undetectable to the naked eye. All of these creatures are made of cells, but not every cell is created equal. There are two major categories of cells that determine how a creature will grow, and these are the prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. These are both worlds apart and have several distinctions that become apparent in the organisms they create.
What is a Prokaryotic Cell?
Taken from the Old Greek terms pro- meaning before and –karyon meaning nut, which refers to the nucleus, prokaryotic cells are those that were present since prehistoric times. Before the world became inhabited by the creatures we see and know today, it was filled with billions of prokaryotes which are single celled organisms. These organisms had very little functions, and basically lived to survive. Today, they come in the form of bacteria or fungi which thrive in small colonies. It wasn’t until some these unicellular creatures evolved and adapted that the more complex eukaryotic cells started to appear and thrive.
What is a Eukaryotic Cell?
A eukaryotic cell is an organism with a nucleus which is concealed in a membrane. Because the nucleus contains DNA information, these cells can multiply and divide in order to become a much bigger organism. Animals, plants, and humans are all made from eukaryotic cells. Compared to prokaryotic cells, eukaryotic cells have more organelles and membranes which allow greater functions and adaptability.
The Main Difference
There are lots of organelles contained in eukaryotes that cannot be found in prokaryotes. The nucleus, membrane, lysosomes and peroxisomes, microtubules, endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondira, cytoskeleton, golgi apparatus, and chloroplasts are all present in eukaryotes, but aren’t present in prokaryotes. It also pays to note that the organelles that are common between these two types of cells differ greatly in size and number.
As a general rule, for any organelle that they both have, eukaryotes have much larger versions. They’re also significantly more plentiful than those found in prokaryotes. This is why eukaryotes are more capable of division and multiplication, and why prokaryotes have become limited to single celled organisms. While there are some prokaryotes that have shown signs of adaptation and evolution, they’re a long way from achieving the same levels and versatility that eukaryotes have attained.
