What's the difference between prokaryotic cells and eukaryotic cells

Eukaryotic cells are what make up you (and also plants), whereas prokaryotic cells make up bacteria. If you think about the fact that bacteria are way smaller than plants and animals, you can remember that these cells are much smaller than eukaryotic cells. Prokaryotic literally means 'before the nucleus' so prokaryotes don't contain a nucleus, but they still have DNA, which is found in small rings floating around called 'plasmids'. Every prokaryotic cell has a cell wall surrounding it, whereas in the eukaryotic world only plant and fungal cells have cell walls, animal cells are only covered in a thinner layer known as the cell membrane. Finally, eukaryotic cells mostly divide by mitosis, but prokaryotes divide with binary fission.

MS
Answered by Matt S. Biology tutor

3188 Views

See similar Biology GCSE tutors

Related Biology GCSE answers

All answers ▸

How can antibacterial resistance be limited?


What sort of inhibitor in an enzyme catalysed reaction is NOT affected by substrate concentration?


Explain why there has been a large increase in antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria.


A student cut a piece of potato into 10 discs, each 1mm thick and with a 10mm diameter. He then placed them in a beaker of deionised water. After a couple of days, they had increased in size- both thickness and diameter. Explain why this is the case.


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2026 by IXL Learning