So what are the similarities and differences?
Although prokaryotes and eukaryotes are two different types of cells, there are quite a few similarities and differences. Some of these might be a recap from GCSE but some might be new!
Similarities
- Both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells have organelles, special structures that perform a lot of different activities inside a cell.
- The cell-surface membrane in both types is made of a phospholipid bilayer, an organelle responsible for controlling the passage of substances across exchange surfaces.
Differences
- Both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells have organelles, special structures that perform a lot of different activities inside a cell.
- Prokaryotic cells are the cells that make up single-celled prokaryotes, like bacteria. The main difference is that eukaryotic cells make up a lot of different complex eukaryotic organisms (e.g. animals, plants. fungi an algae).
- Eukaryotic cells are much, much larger and a lot more complex and complicated than prokaryotic cells.
- Cells arise from other cells by binary fission in prokaryotic cells, but in eukaryotic cells, they use mitosis or meiosis.