Eukaryotic cells store their genetic material in a nucleus and have membrane bound sub-cellular structures.
Eukaryotic organisms can be unicellular or multicellular.
Examples of eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms.
Prokaryotic cells do not have membrane bound sub-cellular structures including a nucleus; DNA is floating in cytoplasm.
Prokaryotic organisms are unicellular.

Keywords

Eukaryotic - Eukaryotic cells contain a membrane bound nucleus; this contains the DNA.
Multicellular - Organisms that are made up of more than one cell are multicellular.
Prokaryotic - Prokaryotic cells have no membrane bound nucleus; DNA is free floating in the cytoplasm.
Unicellular - An organism that consists of only one cell is unicellular.

Common misconception

All eukaryotic cells are multicellular.

Addressed within the slides to specifically mention that some eukaryotic organisms are unicellular.

There are sub-cellular structures that have not been mentioned within the lesson that students may be familiar with. It might be good to remind students that they are present, but that they are not membrane bound or linked to understanding the difference between eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells.

Teacher tip

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.

Which of these images is showing a bacterium?

Correct Answer: An image in a quiz

Q2.

What does the prefix 'uni' mean in the word 'unicycle'?

Correct answer: one

two

many

united

Q3.

What is the unit for micrometres?

Correct answer: µm

Q4.

In an animal cell, which sub-cellular structure contains the DNA?

Correct Answer: nucleus

Q5.

Which of the following organisms is made up of many cells?

Correct answer: fish

amoeba

yeast

bacterium

Q6.

Match the organism to its description.

Correct Answer:bacterium ,a unicellular microorganism that contains no nucleus

a unicellular microorganism that contains no nucleus

Correct Answer:plant,an organism where some cells contains chloroplasts

an organism where some cells contains chloroplasts

Correct Answer:animal,an organism where cells contain no cell wall

an organism where cells contain no cell wall

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.

Match the key term to its definition.

Correct Answer:eukaryotic,an organism with a membrane bound nucleus

an organism with a membrane bound nucleus

Correct Answer:prokaryotic,an organism with no membrane bound nucleus

an organism with no membrane bound nucleus

Correct Answer:multicellular,an organism made up of many cells

an organism made up of many cells

Correct Answer:unicellular,an organism made up of a single cell

an organism made up of a single cell

Q2.

Which of the following sub-cellular structures would not be found in a prokaryotic cell?

cell membrane

Correct answer: mitochondria

ribosome

cytoplasm

Q3.

How do human cheek cells divide?

binary fission

reproduction

Correct answer: mitosis

meiosis

Q4.

Which of the following statements are true?

Correct answer: Prokaryotic cells are usually smaller than eukaryotic cells.

The DNA is free floating in eukaryotic cells.

Eukaryotic cells contain no membrane bound structures.

Correct answer: Prokaryotic cells contain a cell wall.

Q5.

Which statement is correct?

All eukaryotic cells contain a cell wall.

Only plant cells contain a cell wall.

Correct answer: Plant and yeast cells contain a cell wall.

Plant and animal cells contain a cell wall.

Q6.

Which of the statements are false?

Bacterial cell walls are made from peptidoglycan.

Correct answer: All eukaryotic organisms are multicellular.

Correct answer: Yeast are prokaryotic organisms.

Bacteria can contain a ring of DNA called a plasmid.