Eukaryotic cell
A cell whose DNA sits inside a nucleus and which has membrane-bound compartments called organelles. Animals, plants, fungi and protists are eukaryotes.
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Analogy
A house with separate rooms, each with its own job.
In practice
Rooms let a cell run chemical reactions that would clash if mixed, such as making and breaking down proteins.
Practice
Flashcards
- Which two features separate prokaryotic from eukaryotic cells?Eukaryotes have a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles. Prokaryotes have neither.
Interview questions
- Compare the structure of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells and explain why compartments help eukaryotes.
- Prokaryotes lack a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles
- Eukaryotes keep DNA in a nucleus and have organelles
- Compartments keep incompatible reactions apart
- Compartments raise efficiency by concentrating enzymes
Questions people ask
Why are eukaryotic cells usually bigger than prokaryotic cells?
Internal compartments let eukaryotes organise chemistry inside a large volume. Prokaryotes rely on diffusion to move molecules, and that works well only over short distances. Eukaryotes use organelles and the cytoskeleton to transport materials, so they can grow larger while still working efficiently.
Do all eukaryotic cells have the same organelles?
No. Plant cells have chloroplasts, a cell wall and a large central vacuole, which animal cells lack. Animal cells have centrioles and lysosomes more prominently. Red blood cells in mammals lose their nucleus entirely, and muscle cells carry far more mitochondria than most cells.