BioNinja

Eukaryotes are organisms whose cells contain a nucleus and are compartmentalised by numerous membrane-bound organelles

• They have a greater level of structural complexity and are believed to have evolved from prokaryotic cells via endosymbiosis

Eukaryotes have been classified into distinct kingdoms, based on key structural and functional differences

• Animal: Have no cell wall and undertake heterotrophic nutrition (via ingestion)

• Plant: Have a cell wall (made of cellulose) and undertake autotrophic nutrition (via photosynthesis)

• Fungi: Have a cell wall (made of chitin) and undertake heterotrophic nutrition (via absorption)

• Protist: Any eukaryotic organism that does not belong to the animal, plant or fungal kingdoms

Eukaryotic Cell Structure

All eukaryotic cells share a number of key cellular components:

• The genetic material is found within a double-membrane structure called the nucleus 

• The ribosomes within the cell that are responsible for protein synthesis are comparatively larger in size (80S)

• Eukaryotes all share a number of membrane-bound organelles – including mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, golgi apparatus and vesicles

• Plant cells possess chloroplasts (for photosynthesis) and have a large, fluid-filled vacuole surrounded by a tonoplast membrane
  

• Multicellular fungi form filamentous hyphae that are typically separated by internal walls called septa
  

Animal Cell Structure

Plant Cell Structure