[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"$fxLN3MUwXCdr5RPjwZYIDpOj8CHyjOmngWTgoKXPtZbg":3,"$f3TepbTFzCR4vlDleMubBeUcZham0X0Egv-v-vm7AzlA":32,"$f3Ft0rKFJHppdzE-vuveecxx1BUcg9iOlMLtyzf_MJDg":47},[4,8,12,16,20,24,28],{"title":5,"slug":6,"path":7},"About Microbeonline.com","about-microbeonline-com","\u002Fabout-microbeonline-com\u002F",{"title":9,"slug":10,"path":11},"About Me","about-me","\u002Fabout-microbeonline-com\u002Fabout-me\u002F",{"title":13,"slug":14,"path":15},"Advertise with Us","advertise-us","\u002Fadvertise-us\u002F",{"title":17,"slug":18,"path":19},"Privacy Policy","privacy-policy","\u002Fprivacy-policy\u002F",{"title":21,"slug":22,"path":23},"Abbreviations","abbreviations","\u002Fabbreviations\u002F",{"title":25,"slug":26,"path":27},"Microbes","microbes","\u002Fmicrobes\u002F",{"title":29,"slug":30,"path":31},"Books","recommended-books","\u002Frecommended-books\u002F",{"type":33,"data":34},"blog",{"slug":35,"title":36,"description":36,"seoTitle":37,"seoDescription":37,"author":38,"createdDate":39,"lastUpdatedDate":40,"draft":41,"category":42,"image":37,"body":43,"faq":44,"tags":45,"related":46},"differences-prokaryotic-eucaryotic-cells","Prokaryotes vs. Eukaryotes: Similarities and Differences",null,"Nisha Rijal","2015-11-21","2025-12-29",false,"difference-between","All living cells can be classified as either prokaryotic or eukaryotic. Bacteria are prokaryotic or prenuclear organisms (organisms without a true nucleus), while fungi, protozoa, helminths, and other organisms are eukaryotic.\n\n[Viruses](\u002Fvirus\u002F) depend on host cells for survival, so they are not considered cellular organisms but infectious agents. Prions (abnormal infectious proteins) are also not considered living cells.\n\nA notable characteristic of eukaryotic cells is the presence of membrane-enclosed subcellular organelles with specialized cellular functions such as mitochondria (sites of aerobic respiration) and chloroplasts (sites of photosynthesis in green plants).\n\n1. **Endoplasmic reticulum** processes and transport proteins.\n2. **Lysosomes** provide an environment for controlled enzymatic degradation of intracellular substances.\n3. **Mitochondria** is the powerhouse of the cell; it generates energy (ATP)\n4. The **nucleus** provides a membrane enclosure for chromosomes.\n5. **The Golgi body transports substances throughout the cell, including internal delivery and exocytosis or secretion of molecules.**\n\nProkaryotic cells, such as bacteria, do not contain organelles. All functions take place in the cytoplasm or cytoplasmic membrane of the cell. The cell wall composed of [peptidoglycan](\u002Fpeptidoglycan-mureinmucopeptide-structure-and-medical-significance\u002F) is the notable structure present only in prokaryotic bacterial cells.\n\nEukaryotic cells have a cytoskeleton that supports cellular structure, organization, and movement. The cytoskeleton plays an essential role in immunology by mediating [phagocytosis.](\u002Fphagocytosis-mechanism-and-steps\u002F)\n\nEukaryotic and prokaryotic cells differ considerably at the macromolecular level, including chromosomal organization, gene expression, and protein synthesis machinery. For example;\n\n1. Eukaryotic cells contain a nucleus with a nuclear membrane enclosing multiple chromosomes, while prokaryotic cells have a single chromosome (nucleoid) that is not enclosed in a nuclear membrane.\n2. Another major difference between bacterial DNA and eukaryotic DNA is that bacterial DNA has no introns, whereas eukaryotic DNA does.\n3. A key genetic difference between prokaryotes and eukaryotes is that eukaryotes typically contain two copies of each gene and are, thus, genetically diploid.\n\n![Eukaryotic and Prokaryotic cells  - Eukaryotic and Prokaryotic cells (Created with BioRender.com)](https:\u002F\u002Fassets.microbeonline.com\u002Fblogs\u002FEukaryotic-Cells-vs-Prokaryotic-Cells.png)Figure: Eukaryotic and Prokaryotic cells (Created with BioRender.com)\n\nProkaryotic and eukaryotic cells differ substantially in many other characteristics, some of which are tabulated here:\n\n\u003Ctable style=\"min-width: 75px;\">\n\u003Ccolgroup>\u003Ccol style=\"min-width: 25px;\">\u003Ccol style=\"min-width: 25px;\">\u003Ccol style=\"min-width: 25px;\">\u003C\u002Fcolgroup>\u003Ctbody>\u003Ctr>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Features\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Prokaryotic cells\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Eukaryotic cells\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003C\u002Ftr>\u003Ctr>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Size\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>1-2 by 1-4 micrometer or less\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Greater than 5 micrometers in width or diameter\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003C\u002Ftr>\u003Ctr>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Genetic system\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp> \u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp> \u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003C\u002Ftr>\u003Ctr>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Location\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Nucleoid, chromatin body or nuclear material\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Nucleus, mitochondria, chloroplasts\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003C\u002Ftr>\u003Ctr>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Nuclear membrane\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Absent\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Present\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003C\u002Ftr>\u003Ctr>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Chromosome\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Single, closed, circular double-stranded DNA.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Multiple, linear chromosomes.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003C\u002Ftr>\u003Ctr>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Histones\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Chromosome does not contain histones.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Chromosomes have histones.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003C\u002Ftr>\u003Ctr>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Sexuality\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Zygote nature is merozygotic (partial diploid)\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Zygote is diploid\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003C\u002Ftr>\u003Ctr>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Cytoplasmic nature and Structures\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp> \u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp> \u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003C\u002Ftr>\u003Ctr>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Cytoplasmic streaming\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Absent\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Present\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003C\u002Ftr>\u003Ctr>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Pinocytosis\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Absent\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Present\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003C\u002Ftr>\u003Ctr>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Gas vacuoles\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Can be present\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Absent\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003C\u002Ftr>\u003Ctr>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Mesosome\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Present\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Absent\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003C\u002Ftr>\u003Ctr>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Ribosomes\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>70S, distributed in the cytoplasm.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>80S arrayed on membranes as in endoplasmic reticulum; 70S in mitochondria and chloroplasts\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003C\u002Ftr>\u003Ctr>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Mitochondria\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Absent\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Present\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003C\u002Ftr>\u003Ctr>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Chloroplasts\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Absent\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>May be present\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003C\u002Ftr>\u003Ctr>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Golgi structures\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Absent\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Present\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003C\u002Ftr>\u003Ctr>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Endoplasmic reticulum\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Absent\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Present\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003C\u002Ftr>\u003Ctr>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Membrane-bound (true) vacuoles\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Absent\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Present\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003C\u002Ftr>\u003Ctr>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Outer Cell Structure\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp> \u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp> \u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003C\u002Ftr>\u003Ctr>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Presence of sterols\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Generally do not contain sterols; except the wall-less \u003Cem>Mycoplasma\u003C\u002Fem>, which has sterols in its membranes.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Eukaryotic cell membranes contain sterols\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003C\u002Ftr>\u003Ctr>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Cell Wall\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Peptidoglycan (murein or mucopeptide) as component\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Absence of \u003Cstrong>peptidoglycan\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003C\u002Ftr>\u003Ctr>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Locomotor organelles\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Simple fibril \u003Cstrong>(\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Ca target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20250806082443\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fmicrobeonline.com\u002Fbacterial-flagella-structure-importance-and-examples-of-flagellated-bacteria\u002F\">\u003Cstrong>\u003Cu>flagella\u003C\u002Fu>\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cstrong>)\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Multifibrilled with “9+2” microtubules\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003C\u002Ftr>\u003Ctr>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Pseudopodia\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Absent\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Present in some\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003C\u002Ftr>\u003Ctr>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Metabolic mechanisms\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Wide variety, particularly that of anaerobic energy-yielding reactions; some fix nitrogen gas; some accumulate poly-β-hydroxybutyrate as reserve material\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>\u003Ca target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20250806082443\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fmicrobeonline.com\u002Fglycolysis-enzymes-steps-and-products\u002F\">\u003Cu>Glycolysis \u003C\u002Fu>\u003C\u002Fa>is a pathway for energy-yielding mechanism\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003C\u002Ftr>\u003Ctr>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>DNA base ratios as moles % of guanine + cytosine (G+C%)\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>28 to 73\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>About 40\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003C\u002Ftr>\u003Ctr>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Examples\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Bacteria, blue-green algae.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Algae, fungi, protozoa, plants, and animals.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003C\u002Ftr>\u003C\u002Ftbody>\n\u003C\u002Ftable>\n\n**References**\n\n1. Madigan Michael T, Bender, Kelly S, Buckley, Daniel H, Sattley, W. Matthew, & Stahl, David A. (2018). [Brock Biology of Microorganisms](https:\u002F\u002Famzn.to\u002F2USOj0v) (15th Edition). Pearson.\n2. Pelczar Jr., M., Chan, E., & Krieg, N. (2007). *Microbiology* (5th edition). Tata McGraw-Hill",[],[],[],[48,55,62,67,71,75,80,85,89,93],{"slug":49,"name":50,"description":51,"image":52,"body":53,"postCount":54},"acharya-tankeshwar","Acharya Tankeshwar","Editor-in-chief","https:\u002F\u002Fassets.microbeonline.com\u002Fauthors\u002Ftankeshwar-acharya-author-microbeonline.jpg","***Tankeshwar Acharya, MSc (Medical Microbiology)***\n\n*Tankeshwar Acharya is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Microbiology at Patan Academy of Health Sciences (PAHS), Nepal, where he has been teaching and practicing clinical microbiology for over 14 years. He is the founder of Microbe Online, one of the leading free microbiology education resources on the web, covering bacteriology, mycology, parasitology, immunology, and clinical laboratory diagnostics written from direct experience in both the classroom and the diagnostic laboratory.*",433,{"slug":56,"name":57,"description":58,"image":59,"body":60,"postCount":61},"ashma-shrestha","Ashma Shrestha","SEO Copywriter and Science Communicator\nKathmandu, Nepal","https:\u002F\u002Fassets.microbeonline.com\u002Fauthors\u002Fashma-shrestha.png","Ashma Shrestha holds a Master of Science in Medical Microbiology from the Institute of Science and Technology (IOST), Tribhuvan University, Nepal, where she developed a strong foundation in virology, molecular biology, and diagnostic microbiology.\n\nShe now works as an SEO Copywriter at Resolution Digital, where she combines her scientific training with research-driven content strategy. She is certified in Google Analytics and Google Business Profile (GBP), and brings a data-informed approach to science communication writing content that is not only accurate but structured to reach and serve the students who need it most.\n\nAt microbeonline, Ashma contributes articles primarily in virology and molecular biology, areas she finds most compelling for their mechanistic depth and their growing clinical relevance. Her writing reflects the same standard the site is built on: factual rigor, clear explanation of the *why* behind microbiology concepts, and content that helps students move from memorization to genuine understanding.\n\nShe is passionate about making complex microbiological concepts accessible without sacrificing accuracy; a skill that sits at the intersection of her scientific training and her professional work in content and SEO.",81,{"slug":63,"name":64,"description":65,"image":37,"body":37,"postCount":66},"sushmita-baniya","Sushmita Baniya","Author \u002F Contributor",32,{"slug":68,"name":69,"description":65,"image":37,"body":37,"postCount":70},"samikshya-acharya","Samikshya Acharya",20,{"slug":72,"name":73,"description":65,"image":37,"body":37,"postCount":74},"alisha-tripathi","Alisha Tripathi",6,{"slug":76,"name":77,"description":78,"image":37,"body":37,"postCount":79},"aastha-shrestha","Aastha Shrestha"," Author \u002F Contributor",10,{"slug":81,"name":82,"description":83,"image":37,"body":37,"postCount":84},"guest-author","Guest Author","Guest Author \u002F Contributor",2,{"slug":86,"name":87,"description":65,"image":37,"body":37,"postCount":88},"srijana-khanal","Srijana Khanal",18,{"slug":90,"name":91,"description":83,"image":37,"body":37,"postCount":92},"dr-poonam-acharya","Dr. Poonam Acharya",1,{"slug":94,"name":38,"description":65,"image":37,"body":95,"postCount":96},"nisha-rijal","**Nisha Rijal** is a microbiologist and quality assurance specialist. She served for nearly 12 years as a microbiologist at the National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL), Nepal's national reference laboratory, and continues to work as a consultant microbiologist in international public health organization. ",51]