Eukaryotic cells are typically 10-100 µm in diameter which are larger than prokaryotic cells. Eukaryotic cells (eukaryotic is from the Greek eu, true, and karyon, kernel, here referring to the nucleus) are a complex cell where the internal structures are enclosed within membranes. Eukaryotic cells contain “true nucleus” where the DNA are covered by nuclear envelope.
Eukaryotic cells have organelles which are internal, membrane-bound sacs and compartments. Organelles allow the compartmentalization where numbers of activities can be occur simultaneously together in a very limited space like cell. It also allows the compatible and interconnected chemical reactions to be happened at different times. For example, starch is produced by chloroplast in photosynthesis. Starch is stored and then released for used in the different reactions in the same organelle.
Two types of eukaryotic cells:
- Animal cells
- Plant cells
Common features of eukaryotic cells
The common features of both animal and plant cells are as below:
- Nucleus
- Endoplasmic reticulum
- Golgi body
- Vesicles
- Mitochondria
- Ribosomes
- Cytoskeleton
Differences between animal cells and plant cells
| Animal cells | Plant cells | |
| Cell wall | No | Primary and secondary cell wall |
| Chloroplast | No | Yes |
| Flagella and cilia | Yes | No |
| Central vacuole | No | Yes |