Eukaryotes and prokaryotes

Bacteria are amongst the simplest of organisms - they are made of single cells. Their cell structure is simpler than the cells of animals, plants and fungi.

Cells of animals, plants and fungi are called .

Cells of bacteria are called .

Three different cells - a plant cell, a bacteria cell and an animal cell

The two types of cell compared:

Feature	Eukaryotic cell	Prokaryotic cell
Size	Most are 5 μm - 100 μm.	Most are 0.2 μm - 2.0 μm.
Outer layers of cell	Cell membrane, surrounded by cell wall in plants and fungi.	Cell membrane, surrounded by cell wall.
Cell contents	Cytoplasm, cell organelles include mitochondria, ribosomes and chloroplasts in plants.	Cytoplasm, ribosomes present; there are no mitochondria or chloroplasts.
Genetic material	DNA in a nucleus, plasmids are found in a few simple eukaryotic organisms.	DNA is a single molecule, found free in the cytoplasm; additional DNA is found on one or more rings called plasmids.

Feature	Size
Eukaryotic cell	Most are 5 μm - 100 μm.
Prokaryotic cell	Most are 0.2 μm - 2.0 μm.

Feature	Outer layers of cell
Eukaryotic cell	Cell membrane, surrounded by cell wall in plants and fungi.
Prokaryotic cell	Cell membrane, surrounded by cell wall.

Feature	Cell contents
Eukaryotic cell	Cytoplasm, cell organelles include mitochondria, ribosomes and chloroplasts in plants.
Prokaryotic cell	Cytoplasm, ribosomes present; there are no mitochondria or chloroplasts.

Feature	Genetic material
Eukaryotic cell	DNA in a nucleus, plasmids are found in a few simple eukaryotic organisms.
Prokaryotic cell	DNA is a single molecule, found free in the cytoplasm; additional DNA is found on one or more rings called plasmids.

A group of organisms called are also prokaryotic.

The key features of cells and their functions - OCR 21st CenturyEukaryotes and prokaryotes

Eukaryotes and prokaryotes

More guides on this topic

Related links