Prokaryotic Eukaryotic
Small cells (<5µm) Larger cells (>10µm)
Always unicellular Often multicellular
No nucleus Yes nucleus
No membrane bound organelles (nucleoid non Yes membrane bound organelles
enclosed region containing DNA)
DNA is usually circular (not always) DNA is linear
Usually single chromosome (not always) Multiple chromosomes and associated with
without proteins proteins to form chromatin
Divide by binary fission Cell division by mitosis/meiosis
Asexual reproduction Asexual or sexual
Cell wall peptidoglycan Cell walls when present are chemically simple
70S ribosomes 80S ribosomes
DNA not associated