In this lesson, we discuss the similarities and differences between the eukaryotic cells of your body and prokaryotic cells such as bacteria. Eukaryotes organize different functions within specialized membrane-bound compartments called organelles. These structures do not exist in prokaryotes.
Prokaryotic And Eukaryotic Cells Your body's composed of trillions of cells - lots of different types of cells that make up different organs and other parts of your body. Your body is also where 10 times that number of bacteria call 'home sweet home.' But don't be afraid - these bacteria do more good than harm to you. And besides, just in case you wanted to strike up a conversation with your tenants, you and your bacteria do have a few things in common.
All cells share some common characteristics that make them living things. All organisms are composed of cells, the basic fundamental unit of life. They contain DNA as a heritable genetic material, and they can reproduce. They transcribe DNA into RNA and translate RNA into proteins on ribosomes. They can also regulate transport across a cell membrane and require chemical energy for some cellular processes.
Organelles are the biggest difference between bacteria and cells that make up the human body
The number one biggest difference between the bacteria in your body and the cells making up your body are these tiny cellular components called organelles. You've actually learned a lot about organelles in other lessons without knowing it. Organelles are simply membrane-bound compartments within a cell, such as the nucleus, mitochondria, chloroplasts, golgi, and endoplasmic reticulum.
You are a eukaryote. Your cells are eukaryotic. Eukaryotic cells contain membrane-bound organelles, including a nucleus. Eukaryotes can be single-celled or multicelled, such as you, me, plants, fungi, and insects.
Bacteria are an example of prokaryotes. Prokaryotic cells do not contain a nucleus or any other membrane-bound organelle. Prokaryotes include two groups: bacteria and another group called archaea.
Having organelles is a big deal for a cell. A bacteria cell gets along just fine without organelles, but bacteria are tiny. That's why we're able to have so many of them on our body without really noticing them. Our cells, though - they're still small to the naked eye, but they're huge in comparison to bacteria. Our eukaryotic cells are bigger in size, with much more DNA. More DNA means more transcription, and more transcription means more translation, and more translation means more proteins. Bigger cells create the need for organelles.
You can think of it this way. If you only had two pairs of shoes and a few simple outfits, you could just hang up your outfits and put your shoes on the floor inside a small closet. Simple. However, let's say you have a shopping addiction, and you have seven different pairs of black pants, ten pairs of shoes in completely different shades of brown (and other colors, of course), and you hardly ever wear the same hat twice. You can imagine that you would need a walk-in closet, complete with shelving systems to organize everything, right?
Well, organelles are an efficient way to organize everything that's going on in the cell - to compartmentalize cellular functions. That's exactly what a eukaryotic cell is doing - separating cellular processes and organizing its space. But don't be fooled by the 'simplicity' of prokaryotes. Their smaller size and simplicity is an advantage to their lifestyle.
Different Features Of Prokaryotes
Since prokaryotes do not have nuclei, their DNA is housed in a nucleoid
If you have a lot of shoes and a walk-in closet, the nucleus would obviously be the shoe rack - a structure to hold and organize all this important material. Having a nucleus or not is the biggest difference between eukaryotes and prokaryotes. Remember that your eukaryotic cells have linear DNA. Prokaryotic cells have a smaller, circular DNA genome. With a smaller size and a smaller genome, prokaryotes don't really need a nucleus. Their DNA is housed in a nucleoid, which isn't really a structure at all. There are no membranes around it, so it's not a separated compartment. The nucleoid is simply the area where DNA exists. This is the defining difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.
Again, don't be fooled by the lack of compartmentalization. Prokaryotic cells are less complex, but they can still perform the same processes similar to eukaryotic functions - they just do it differently. For example, DNA replication and transcription take place in this nucleoid area of the cytoplasm. While translation is still carried out on ribosomes, these are not membrane-bound organelles, and all ribosomes in a bacterium float free in the cytoplasm. There is no endoplasmic reticulum.
Prokaryotic and eukaryotic ribosomes are both made of rRNA and proteins, but the subunits are going to be different sizes. In addition, a group of bacteria can perform photosynthesis like plants. Without a chloroplast organelle, a bacterium can perform photosynthesis in the folds of its cell membrane. These cells may have been the first early organisms to ever perform photosynthesis!
Taught by Kristin KlucevsekKristin has taught college Biology courses and has her doctorate in Biology.
Self-Quiz
1. Which one of the following eukaryotic cell structures does not contain DNA?
a . a nucleus
b. a mitochondrion
c. the endoplasmic reticulum
d. a chloroplast
2. Which of the following is not an accurate description of a chromosome?
a. It is a colored body localized in the nucleus.
b. It is a protein and nucleic acid complex.
c. It is the cellular structure that contains the genetic material.
d. In eukaryotes, it is composed of many DNA molecules attached end to end.
3. A centriole is an organelle that is:
a. present in the center of a cell's cytoplasm
b .composed of microtubules and important for organizing the spindle fibers
c. surrounded by a membrane
d. part of a chromosome
4. The rough endoplasmic reticulum is:
a. an intracellular double-membrane system to which ribosomes are attached
b. an intracellular membrane that is studded with microtubular structures
c. a membranous structure found within mitochondria
d. only found in prokaryotic cells
5. In the nucleus of eukaryotic cells, the genetic material is complexed with protein and organized into linear structures called:
a. centrioles
b. histones
c. chromosomes
d. plasmids
6. Which of the following statements does not apply to the nuclear envelope?
a. It is a double membrane.
b. It has pores through which material enters and leaves.
c. It is continuous with the endoplasmic reticulum.
d. It has infoldings to form cristae.
7. Some proteins are found in the plasma membrane. What part of the protein is within the membrane itself?
a. hydrophilic region
b. hydroponic region
c. hydrophobic region
d. hydrocoel region
8. What is the simplest level of packing of the eukaryotic chromosome?
a. the nucleolus
b. the nucleoid
c. the nucleosome
d. the nucleoplasm
9. Lysosomes are formed by budding from which cellular organelle?
a. smooth endoplasmic reticulum
b .Golgi apparatus
c. rough endoplasmic reticulum
d .nucleus
10. All peroxisomes carry out this function:
a. break down fats and amino acids into smaller molecules that can be used for energy production by mitochondria
b. digest macromolecules using the hydrolytic enzymes they contain
c. synthesize membrane components such as fatty acids and phospholipids
d. control the flow of ions into and out of the cell
11. Which of the following does not apply to chloroplasts?
a. They contain chlorophyll and the enzymes required for photosynthesis.
b. They contain an internal membrane system consisting of thylakoids.
c. They synthesize ATP (adenosine triphosphate) from ADP (adenosine diphosphate) and Pi (inorganic phosphate).
d. They are bounded by two membranes, the inner of which is folded into the cristae.
In this lesson, we discuss the similarities and differences between the eukaryotic cells of your body and prokaryotic cells such as bacteria. Eukaryotes organize different functions within specialized membrane-bound compartments called organelles. These structures do not exist in prokaryotes.
Prokaryotic And Eukaryotic Cells Your body's composed of trillions of cells - lots of different types of cells that make up different organs and other parts of your body. Your body is also where 10 times that number of bacteria call 'home sweet home.' But don't be afraid - these bacteria do more good than harm to you. And besides, just in case you wanted to strike up a conversation with your tenants, you and your bacteria do have a few things in common.
All cells share some common characteristics that make them living things. All organisms are composed of cells, the basic fundamental unit of life. They contain DNA as a heritable genetic material, and they can reproduce. They transcribe DNA into RNA and translate RNA into proteins on ribosomes. They can also regulate transport across a cell membrane and require chemical energy for some cellular processes.
Organelles are the biggest difference between bacteria and cells that make up the human body
The number one biggest difference between the bacteria in your body and the cells making up your body are these tiny cellular components called organelles. You've actually learned a lot about organelles in other lessons without knowing it. Organelles are simply membrane-bound compartments within a cell, such as the nucleus, mitochondria, chloroplasts, golgi, and endoplasmic reticulum.
You are a eukaryote. Your cells are eukaryotic. Eukaryotic cells contain membrane-bound organelles, including a nucleus. Eukaryotes can be single-celled or multicelled, such as you, me, plants, fungi, and insects.
Bacteria are an example of prokaryotes. Prokaryotic cells do not contain a nucleus or any other membrane-bound organelle. Prokaryotes include two groups: bacteria and another group called archaea.
Having organelles is a big deal for a cell. A bacteria cell gets along just fine without organelles, but bacteria are tiny. That's why we're able to have so many of them on our body without really noticing them. Our cells, though - they're still small to the naked eye, but they're huge in comparison to bacteria. Our eukaryotic cells are bigger in size, with much more DNA. More DNA means more transcription, and more transcription means more translation, and more translation means more proteins. Bigger cells create the need for organelles.
You can think of it this way. If you only had two pairs of shoes and a few simple outfits, you could just hang up your outfits and put your shoes on the floor inside a small closet. Simple. However, let's say you have a shopping addiction, and you have seven different pairs of black pants, ten pairs of shoes in completely different shades of brown (and other colors, of course), and you hardly ever wear the same hat twice. You can imagine that you would need a walk-in closet, complete with shelving systems to organize everything, right?
Well, organelles are an efficient way to organize everything that's going on in the cell - to compartmentalize cellular functions. That's exactly what a eukaryotic cell is doing - separating cellular processes and organizing its space. But don't be fooled by the 'simplicity' of prokaryotes. Their smaller size and simplicity is an advantage to their lifestyle.
Different Features Of Prokaryotes
Since prokaryotes do not have nuclei, their DNA is housed in a nucleoid
If you have a lot of shoes and a walk-in closet, the nucleus would obviously be the shoe rack - a structure to hold and organize all this important material. Having a nucleus or not is the biggest difference between eukaryotes and prokaryotes. Remember that your eukaryotic cells have linear DNA. Prokaryotic cells have a smaller, circular DNA genome. With a smaller size and a smaller genome, prokaryotes don't really need a nucleus. Their DNA is housed in a nucleoid, which isn't really a structure at all. There are no membranes around it, so it's not a separated compartment. The nucleoid is simply the area where DNA exists. This is the defining difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.
Again, don't be fooled by the lack of compartmentalization. Prokaryotic cells are less complex, but they can still perform the same processes similar to eukaryotic functions - they just do it differently. For example, DNA replication and transcription take place in this nucleoid area of the cytoplasm. While translation is still carried out on ribosomes, these are not membrane-bound organelles, and all ribosomes in a bacterium float free in the cytoplasm. There is no endoplasmic reticulum.
Prokaryotic and eukaryotic ribosomes are both made of rRNA and proteins, but the subunits are going to be different sizes. In addition, a group of bacteria can perform photosynthesis like plants. Without a chloroplast organelle, a bacterium can perform photosynthesis in the folds of its cell membrane. These cells may have been the first early organisms to ever perform photosynthesis!
Taught by Kristin KlucevsekKristin has taught college Biology courses and has her doctorate in Biology.
Self-Quiz
1. Which one of the following eukaryotic cell structures does not contain DNA?
a . a nucleus
b. a mitochondrion
c. the endoplasmic reticulum
d. a chloroplast
2. Which of the following is not an accurate description of a chromosome?
a. It is a colored body localized in the nucleus.
b. It is a protein and nucleic acid complex.
c. It is the cellular structure that contains the genetic material.
d. In eukaryotes, it is composed of many DNA molecules attached end to end.
3. A centriole is an organelle that is:
a. present in the center of a cell's cytoplasm
b .composed of microtubules and important for organizing the spindle fibers
c. surrounded by a membrane
d. part of a chromosome
4. The rough endoplasmic reticulum is:
a. an intracellular double-membrane system to which ribosomes are attached
b. an intracellular membrane that is studded with microtubular structures
c. a membranous structure found within mitochondria
d. only found in prokaryotic cells
5. In the nucleus of eukaryotic cells, the genetic material is complexed with protein and organized into linear structures called:
a. centrioles
b. histones
c. chromosomes
d. plasmids
6. Which of the following statements does not apply to the nuclear envelope?
a. It is a double membrane.
b. It has pores through which material enters and leaves.
c. It is continuous with the endoplasmic reticulum.
d. It has infoldings to form cristae.
7. Some proteins are found in the plasma membrane. What part of the protein is within the membrane itself?
a. hydrophilic region
b. hydroponic region
c. hydrophobic region
d. hydrocoel region
8. What is the simplest level of packing of the eukaryotic chromosome?
a. the nucleolus
b. the nucleoid
c. the nucleosome
d. the nucleoplasm
9. Lysosomes are formed by budding from which cellular organelle?
a. smooth endoplasmic reticulum
b .Golgi apparatus
c. rough endoplasmic reticulum
d .nucleus
10. All peroxisomes carry out this function:
a. break down fats and amino acids into smaller molecules that can be used for energy production by mitochondria
b. digest macromolecules using the hydrolytic enzymes they contain
c. synthesize membrane components such as fatty acids and phospholipids
d. control the flow of ions into and out of the cell
11. Which of the following does not apply to chloroplasts?
a. They contain chlorophyll and the enzymes required for photosynthesis.
b. They contain an internal membrane system consisting of thylakoids.
c. They synthesize ATP (adenosine triphosphate) from ADP (adenosine diphosphate) and Pi (inorganic phosphate).
d. They are bounded by two membranes, the inner of which is folded into the cristae.