DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PROKARYOTES AND EUKARYOTES

1. GENERAL MICROBIOLOGY UNIT 1
Arthi Mohan 1
3. DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PROKARYOTES AND EUKARYOTES
S.No. Characteristics Prokaryotes Eukaryotes
1 Cell size
Generally 1 to 10 μm in
linear dimension
Generally 5 to 100 μm in linear
dimension
2 Cell division Binary fission Mitosis
3 Cellular organism Unicellular
Mostly multicellular with
differentiation of many types
4 Cell wall
Complex structure with
peptidoglycan layer, protein
and lipids
Absent or composed of cellulose
or chitin
5 Plasma membrane
Present, no sterols except in
mycoplasma
Present, contain sterols
6 Metabolism Anaerobic or aerobic Aerobic
7 DNA Circular DNA in cytoplasm
Very long, linear DNA molecule
bounded by nuclear envelope
8
Membrane bound
nucleus and nucleoli
Absent Present
9
Extra chromosomal
DNA (Plasmid)
Present Absent
10 Histones Absent Present
11 RNA and protein
RNA and protein
synthesized in same
compartment
RNA synthesized and processed
in nucleus; proteins synthesized
in cytoplasm
12
Membrane bound
organelles
Absent
Present (Nucleus, mitochondria,
chloroplast, endoplasmic
reticulum, etc)
13 Ribosomes 70S type 80S type
14 Lysosomes Absent Present
15 Locomotion
Rotating flagella and gliding
movement
Undulating flagella and cilia and
amoeboid movement
16 Flagella
Consists of two protein
building blocks
Consists of multiple microtubules
17 Pili Present Absent
18 Glyocalyx
Present as a slime layer or
capsule
Present in some cells that lacks
cell wall
19
Site for cellular
respiration
Cell membrane Mitochondria
20 Sexual reproduction Conjugation Meiosis
21 Examples Bacteria and Archaea Fungi, Algae and Protozoa