Similarities Between Eukaryotic and Prokaryotic Cells

Similarities between eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells
Cell Membranekdkdkkd
Both eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells bear a lipid bilayer, which is an arrangement of
phospholipids and proteins that acts as a selective barrier between the internal and
external environment of the cell.
Genetic Material
Eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells both use deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) as the basis for
their genetic information. This genetic material is needed to regulate and inform cell
function through the creation of RNA by transcription, followed by the generation of
proteins through translation.
Ribosomes
Ribosomes facilitate RNA translation and the creation of protein, which is essential to
the functioning of both eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells.
Cytoplasm
The cytoplasm is the medium in which the biochemical reactions of the cell take place,
of which the primary component is cytosol.
In eukaryotic cells, the cytoplasm comprises everything between the plasma membrane
and the nuclear envelope, including the organelles; the material within the nucleus is
termed the nucleoplasm. In prokaryotes the cytoplasm encompasses everything within
the plasma membrane, including the cytoskeleton and genetic material.
Structure of a eukaryotic cell. (Arisa_J / Shutterstock)
Differences between eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells

Cell size
Eukaryotic cells are ordinarily larger (10 – 100um) than prokaryotic cells (1 – 10um).
Cell arrangement
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Eukaryotes are often multicellular whereas prokaryotes are unicellular. There are
however some exceptions –unicellular eukaryotes include amoebas, paramecium,
yeast.
True membrane-bound nucleus

Eukaryotic cells have a true nucleus bound by a double membrane. It contains the
DNA-related functions of the large cell in a smaller enclosure to ensure close proximity
of materials and increased efficiency for cellular communication and functions.
In contrast, the smaller prokaryotic cells have no nucleus. The materials are already
fairly close to each other and there is only a "nucleoid" which is the central open region
of the cell where the DNA is located.
DNA structure
Eukaryotic DNA is linear and complexed with packaging proteins called "histones,"
before organization into a number of chromosomes
Prokaryotic DNA is circular and is neither associated with histones nor organized into
chromosomes. A prokaryotic cell is simpler and requires far fewer genes to function
than the eukaryotic cell. Therefore, it contains only one circular DNA molecule and
various smaller DNA circlets (plasmids).
Structure of a prokaryotic cell. (In Art / Shutterstock)
Membrane-bound organelles
Eukaryotic cells contain many membrane-enclosed, large, complex organelles in the
cytoplasm whereas prokaryotic cells do not contain these membrane-bound organelles.
This is a key difference because it allows a high level of intracellular division of labor
and contributes to the greater complexity characteristic of eukaryotic cells.
Due to the larger size of the eukaryotic cells, confining certain cellular process to a
smaller area also increases the efficiency of functions by improving communication and
movement within the cell.
Only eukaryotes possess a membrane-bound nucleus and membrane-bound organelles

such as the mitochondria, golgi apparatus, lysosomes, peroxisomes and ER.
Ribosome size
Both eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells contain many ribosomes; however the ribosomes
of the eukaryotic cells are larger than prokaryotic ribosomes i.e. 80S compared to 70S.
Eukaryotic ribosomes also show more complexity than prokaryotic – they are
constructed of five kinds of ribosomal RNA and about eighty kinds of proteins. In
contrast, prokaryotic ribosomes are composed of only three kinds of rRNA and about
fifty kinds of protein.
Cytoskeleton
This is a multicomponent system in eukaryotes composed of microtubules, actin
filaments and intermediate filaments. It is required for maintaining cell shape, providing
internal organization and mechanical support. It is also paramount in movement and cell
division.
Sexual reproduction
Most eukaryotes undergo sexual reproduction whilst prokaryotes reproduce asexually.
Sexual reproduction in eukaryotes results in offspring with genetic material which is a
mixture of the parents’ genome and during this process, genetic variation is generated
via sexual recombination.
On the other hand, a prokaryote will reproduce clones of itself via binary fission and
relies more on horizontal genetic transfer for variation.
Cell division
This occurs by mitosis for eukaryotic cells and binary fission for prokaryotic cells.
Eukaryotic cells undergo mitosis then cytokinesis. This involves numerous stages - the
nuclear membrane disintegrates then the chromosomes are sorted and separated to
ensure that each daughter cell receives two sets (a diploid number) of chromosomes.
Following this, the cytoplasm divides to form two genetically identical daughter cells i.e.
cytokinesis.
In contrast, prokaryotes undergo a simpler process of binary fission. This is faster than
mitosis and involves DNA (nucleoid) replication, chromosomal segregation, and
ultimately cell separation into two daughter cells genetically identical to the parent cell.
Unlike mitosis, this process does not involve the nuclear envelope and centromere and
spindle formation.

Similarities Between Eukaryotic and Prokaryotic Cells

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Similarities Between Eukaryotic and Prokaryotic Cells

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Similarities between eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells

Differences between eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells

True membrane-bound nucleus

Only eukaryotes possess a membrane-bound nucleus and membrane-bound organelles

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