Question

1. Discuss 4 - 5 features how prokaryotes in general are different from eukaryotic members. Include how prokaryotes as well as eukaryotes belong to the microbial world.

Answer 1

Microorganisms and all other living organisms can be broadly classified into Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes. They are distinguished on the basis of their cellular characteristics.

Prokaryotes are simple, unicellular organisms that lack a well-defined nucleus and membrane-bound organelles.
Eukaryotes, on the other hand, are complex, large structured cells with a distinct nucleus. They can be unicellular or multicellular and include animals, plants, fungi, and protists.

cell size:
Prokaryotic cells are the primitive kind of cell, whose size varies from 0.5-3µm.
Eukaryotic cells are the modified cell structure containing different components in it, and their size varies from 2-100µm.

nuclear structure:
Prokaryotic cells do not have a defined nucleus; rather, they have a membrane-less region, nucleoid, that holds free-floating DNA. They contain only one, but not a true chromosome.
Eukaryotic cells have a well structured and compartmentalized nucleus surrounded by a nuclear envelope and hold the eukaryotic cell's DNA. The DNA can be found made of individual pieces known as chromosomes. These chromosomes undergo meiosis and mitosis during cell division.

organelles:
Cell organelles which are membrane-bound like mitochondria, ribosomes, Golgi body, endoplasmic reticulum, cell wall, chloroplast, etc. are absent in prokaryotic cells, while these organelles are found in eukaryotic organisms.

genetic material:
DNA is circular and double-stranded in Prokaryotes (plasmids), but in Eukaryotes, it is linear and double-stranded, wrapped around proteins called histones.

reproduction:
Prokaryotes reproduce asexually, resulting in the offspring being an exact clone of the parent.
Most eukaryotes reproduce sexually.