Cellular BasicsProkaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells |
How do the cells of bacteria, plants, and animals compare to each other? |
Numerous differences exist between the cells of bacteria, plants, and animals—all of which make these organisms unique. The following table lists some of those major differences and even a few similarities:
|
|
Bacterium (Prokaryote) |
Plant (Eukaryote) |
Animal (Eukaryote) |
Exterior structures |
|
|
|
|
|
Cell wall |
Present (protein polysaccharide) |
Present (cellulose) |
Absent |
|
Plasma membrane |
Present |
Present |
Present |
Interior structures |
|
|
|
|
|
Endoplasmic reticulum |
Absent |
Usually present |
Usually present |
|
Ribosome |
Present |
Present |
Present |
|
Microtubule |
Absent |
Present |
Present |
|
Centriole |
Absent |
Absent |
Present |
|
Golgi apparatus |
Absent |
Present |
Present |
|
Cytoskeleton |
Absent |
Present |
Present |
Other organelles |
|
|
|
|
|
Nucleus |
Absent |
Present |
Present |
|
Mitochondrion |
Absent |
Present |
Present |
|
Chloroplast |
Absent |
Present |
Absent |
|
Nucleolus |
Absent |
Present |
Present |
|
Chromosome |
A single circle of naked DNA |
Multiple; DNA-protein complex |
Multiple; DNA-protein complex |
|
Lysosome |
Absent |
Absent |
Present |
|
Vacuole |
Absent |
Usually a large single vacuole |
Absent |