- Prokaryotic cells are simpler and smaller than eukaryotic cells. Prokaryotes were the earliest life on Earth and remain unicellular, while eukaryotes later evolved complex structures and can be multicellular.
- Key differences include prokaryotes lacking membrane-bound organelles while eukaryotes have organelles like the nucleus and mitochondria. Prokaryotic DNA floats in the cytoplasm while eukaryotic DNA is enclosed in the nucleus.
- Both cell types share some similarities like cell membranes and ribosomes, but eukaryotes are generally larger and more advanced with specialized organelles that allow for complex multicellular organisms.