What are the differences between Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic cells?
Following are the differences between Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic cells -:
| Criteria | Prokaryotic Cells | Eukaryotic Cells |
| Cell Size | Small (1-10 µm) | Larger (10-100 µm) |
| Nucleus | Absent (nucleoid region present) | Present (membrane-bound nucleus) |
| Organelles | No membrane-bound organelles | Membrane-bound organelles present (e.g., mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum) |
| Chromosomes | Single, circular chromosome | Multiple, linear chromosomes |
| Cell Division | Binary fission | Mitosis and meiosis |
| Ribosomes | 70S type | 80S type (cytoplasm) and 70S in organelles |
| Cell Wall | Present (composed of peptidoglycan in bacteria) | Present in some (e.g., plants have cellulose; fungi have chitin) |
| DNA Location | Cytoplasm (nucleoid region) | Inside the nucleus |
| Flagella Structure | Simple structure | Complex (9+2 microtubule arrangement) |
| Energy Production | Occurs in the cell membrane | Occurs in mitochondria and chloroplasts |
| Examples | Bacteria, Archaea | Animals, Plants, Fungi, Protists |