All cells are broadly classified into prokaryotic cells and eukaryotic cells, according to whether their genetic materials are enclosed by a nuclear envelope or not.
Prokaryotic cells (pro-primitive, karyon- nucleus): From the morphological point of view, prokaryotic cells are the most primitive cells. They do not contain a definite nucleus. The chromatin bodies remain scattered inside the cytoplasm. Such a type of nucleus without a nuclear membrane is called a nucleoid. Eg. bacteria, cyanobacteria (blue green algae) etc.
Eukaryotic cells: These are believed to have been evolved from the prokaryotes. They contain a definite nucleus. The chromatin bodies are enclosed by a nuclear membrane. Eukaryotic cells are larger than the prokaryotes. They show better structural organisation and increased functional efficiency than prokaryotes.
Prokaryotic Cell vs Eukaryotic Cell
The size is 0.1- 5.0 um
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The size is 5-100 um
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Cell wall, if present, contains mucopeptide or peptidoglycan. Read more: Bacterial Cell wall
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Cell wall, if present, contains cellulose, peptidoglycan is absent. Read more: Plant cell wall
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A typical nucleus is absent.
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A typical nucleus made of nuclear envelope, chromatin,nucleoplasm, nuclear matrix and nucleoli
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DNA content is low
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DNA lies inside the nucleus, mitochondria and plastids.
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DNA is generally circular.
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DNA is commonly linear
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DNA is naked or without any association with histone proteins.
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DNA is associated with histones.
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Introns are commonly absent in DNA, RNA, therefore, does not require splicing.
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Introns are quite common. RNA, therefore, requires spicing before becoming operational.
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Plasmids may occur.
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Plasmids are rare.
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Cell membrane may have infolding called mesosome.
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Mesosome absent
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Mitochondria are absent
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Mitochondria are often present
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Ribosomes are 70 S
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Ribosomes are 80 S occur in cytoplasm.
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Cytoplasm does not possess endoplasmic reticulum.
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Endoplasmic reticulum is usually present.
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Golgi apparatus is absent
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Golgi apparatus is present
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Microtubules and microfilaments are rare.
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They are usually present.
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Centrosome is absent
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Centrosome is present except in flowering plants and a few others.
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Sexual reproduction is absent.
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Sexual reproduction is commonly present.
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Cell division does not show distinction of interphase and M phase
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A distinction of interphase and mitotic phase occurs during cell cycle.
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Endocytosis and exocytosis are absent.
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They occur in eukaryotic cells
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Flagella are smaller. A distinction of axoneme and sheath is absent in the flagellum.
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Flagella are longer. A flagellum shows distinction of axoneme and sheath.
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Cyclosis is absent.
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Cyclosis or cytoplasmic streaming is common.
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It may have pili and fimbriae.
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Pili and fimbriae are absent
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Transcription occurs in the cytoplasm
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Transcription occurs inside the nucleus.
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