Differences Between Prokaryotic And Eukaryotic Organisms

1339 Words Oct 22nd, 2015 6 Pages
Discuss the differences and similarities between prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms

In the past it was thought that you could not get anymore different than plants and animals. Both the plantae and animalia kingdoms, as well as the fungi and protista kingdoms are comprised of eukaryotic organisms, whether they are multi or unicellular, which have more in common with each other than they do with the members of the final kingdom, the prokaryotes. The word prokaryote roughly translated from Greek means ‘’before a kernel’’, references to the fact that prokaryotes lack a membrane bound nucleus, where as eukaryotes (meaning true nucleus) do, which is the major difference between the two different types of cell other than their sizes. (Brooker et al, 2014)

The nucleus of eukaryotic cells is usually takes up between 10-20% of the cell volume, and it’s primary function is to protect the genetic material stored as linear, often diploid chromosomes, as well as the production of ribosome subunits (Brooker et al, 2014). The majority of the cells genetic material is stored in the nucleus which is surrounded the double membraned nuclear envelope, while extra genetic material is stored within mitochondria and chloroplasts so they have the ability to replicate independently of the cells. The double membrane is made up of a phospholipid bilayer which links to the rough endoplasmic reticulum in the cytoplasm, which consists of cytosol (the site of metabolic pathways) and the other…
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