Prokaryotic vs. Eukaryotic Cells (Updated)

Summary

In this engaging video by the Amoeba Sisters, viewers are taken through an educational journey highlighting the differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. The sisters begin by sharing a personal anecdote about ringworm, a common fungal infection, as a fun entry point to discuss why antibiotics aren't used to treat it. They explain the cell theory and categorize life forms into three domains: Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya, detailing that prokaryotes (single-celled organisms) differ from eukaryotes (which can be single or multicellular, like humans). The video covers essential similarities between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, such as the presence of DNA, ribosomes, cytoplasm, and cell membranes. However, it emphasizes that eukaryotic cells are more complex, larger, and contain a nucleus and other membrane-bound organelles, unlike their prokaryotic counterparts. This informative video wraps up by encouraging viewers to understand these cell types to appreciate life's diversity.

Highlights

• The Amoeba Sisters discuss a personal encounter with ringworm to explain cell types! 🐛➡️🍄
• Antibiotics won’t help with fungal infections; antifungal treatments are needed! 💊🚫🍄
• Prokaryotic = no nucleus; eukaryotic = do have a nucleus! 🔬
• Both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells have essential components like DNA and membranes! 🧬
• Eukaryotic cells are larger and more complex with membrane-bound organelles! 🌱
• Recognizing cell types helps understand biodiversity! 🌍

Key Takeaways

• Ringworm isn’t caused by a worm but by a common fungus! 🐛➡️🍄
• Antibiotics target bacteria, not fungi! 💊🚫🍄
• Prokaryotes are single-celled; eukaryotes can be multicellular! 🧫➡️👥
• Both cell types have DNA, ribosomes, cytoplasm, and membranes! 🧬
• Eukaryotic cells have a nucleus; prokaryotic cells do not! 🔬
• Understanding cells helps us grasp life's diversity! 🌍

Overview

The Amoeba Sisters kick things off with a story about ringworm, using it as a delightful segue into the world of microbiology. They creatively highlight that the name 'ringworm' is a misnomer since it's a fungal infection, not a worm. This tale piques curiosity about why antibiotics don't work for such infections, setting the stage for a deeper exploration into cell biology.

Through an entertaining and educational lens, the video breaks down the basics of cell theory and the three domains of life. Prokaryotes (bacteria and archaea) are introduced as single-celled organisms, while eukaryotes (including humans) can be made up of one or many cells. The Amoeba Sisters explain that despite sharing some components like DNA, ribosomes, and cell membranes, prokaryotic cells lack the complexity of eukaryotic ones, which boast a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles.

Finally, the Amoeba Sisters encourage viewers to pause and reflect on the vocabulary and concepts learned about cell types. By understanding the differences and similarities between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, we can better appreciate the remarkable diversity of life. The video closes with a charming reminder to always stay curious about the world around us.

Chapters

• 00:00 - 00:30: Introduction to Ringworm and Misconceptions The chapter explores the concept of ringworm, revealing prevalent misconceptions about it, such as the false belief that it is caused by a worm. Instead, the chapter clarifies that ringworm is actually caused by a fungus. This realization is shared through the narrator's personal childhood experience of discovering a circular red spot on their arm, which they initially feared was due to a worm. The chapter underscores the importance of understanding and correctly identifying medical conditions, emphasizing that many things, such as pets or soil, can carry such fungi.
• 00:30 - 01:00: Differences Between Bacteria and Fungi This chapter discusses a personal experience with using antifungal cream instead of antibiotics to treat an infection, leading to a curiosity about the differences between bacteria and fungi. It highlights that antibiotics specifically target and destroy bacteria by affecting their reproductive abilities, whereas antifungal treatments are used for fungal infections.
• 01:00 - 01:30: Introduction to Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cell Comparison The chapter introduces the complex comparisons between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. It highlights a key difference, pointing out that bacterial (prokaryotic) cells are distinctly different from fungal and animal (eukaryotic) cells, with fungal cells having more in common with animal cells than with bacterial ones. This leads to a broader discussion about cell types, touching upon the modern cell theory and the fundamental distinctions between these two major cell types.
• 01:30 - 02:00: Defining Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Organisms The chapter explains that all living organisms are composed of one or more cells and belong to one of the three domains of life: Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya. Prokaryotes, which include bacteria and archaea, are unicellular organisms. On the other hand, eukaryotes belong to the domain Eukarya and can be unicellular or multicellular, encompassing groups like protists, plants, animals, and fungi.
• 02:00 - 02:30: Common Features of Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells The chapter introduces the terminology used to differentiate between prokaryotes and eukaryotes, highlighting that 'prokaryote' and 'eukaryote' refer to the organisms themselves, while 'prokaryotic cell' and 'eukaryotic cell' refer to their cells, respectively. Despite their differences, the chapter notes that both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells share some common features, such as the presence of DNA, which is essential as the genetic material of the cells.
• 02:30 - 03:00: Differences in Cell Walls and Complexity The chapter explores the similarities between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, focusing on organelles such as ribosomes, which are vital for protein synthesis. It also discusses shared features like cytoplasm and the cell membrane, highlighting their roles in maintaining cellular function and homeostasis.
• 03:00 - 04:00: Differences in Nucleus and Organelles The chapter explores the differences in cell structure between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, focusing particularly on the presence of cell membranes and cell walls. It points out that while all cells possess a cell membrane, cell walls are predominantly found in prokaryotic cells and certain eukaryotic cells such as plants and fungi. However, many eukaryotic cells like animal cells do not have cell walls. The complexity and size of eukaryotic cells, which are generally more complex and larger than prokaryotic cells, is highlighted as a key distinguishing factor.
• 04:00 - 05:00: Conclusion and Importance of Understanding Cell Types The conclusion chapter emphasizes the differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, highlighting a mnemonic to remember these differences: 'pro' in prokaryote rhymes with 'no,' indicating prokaryotes have no nucleus, whereas 'eu' in eukaryote rhymes with 'do,' signifying eukaryotes do have a nucleus. It further explains that prokaryotic cells lack membrane-bound organelles typically found in eukaryotic cells, such as the nucleus, mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, and Golgi apparatus.

Prokaryotic vs. Eukaryotic Cells (Updated) Transcription

• 00:00 - 00:30 Captions are on! Click CC at bottom right to turn off. Get updates from @AmoebaSisters on Twitter and Facebook! I’ll never forget a circular red spot I developed on my arm when I was in elementary school. It left a lasting memory in my mind, because it was something called ringworm and, with my active imagination, I thought I was now infected a ring-shaped worm. I learned you’ve got to be careful about names, because ringworm isn’t caused by a worm at all. It’s actually a fungus which it turns out is pretty common and can be carried by many things like pets or soil.
• 00:30 - 01:00 And since up to that point, I was used to antibiotics as a way to treat infections, I assumed I’d be given antibiotics. But I wasn’t. I was given an antifungal cream instead, and it went away. So it made me wonder – what made it different from the bacteria that had made me sick in the past? Why wasn’t I given antibiotics? Well antibiotics target bacteria. Antibiotics can destroy bacteria by affecting their ability to reproduce, damaging their
• 01:00 - 01:30 cell walls, or interfering with their ability to make proteins that they need to survive. Just some examples. But it turns out bacterial cells and fungal cells are very different cell types. In fact, fungal cells have more in common with your cells- which are animal cells- than they have in common with bacterial cells. And that has a lot to do with the comparison of prokaryotic cells with eukaryotic cells which is what we will focus on. First, just a refresher---recall that the modern cell theory includes the statement
• 01:30 - 02:00 that all living things are made of one or more cells. All living things. In the three domains of life, prokaryotes are organisms that can be bacteria and archaea. They are unicellular which means they are single-celled organisms. Eukaryotes are organisms that all fit in this last domain Eukarya---eukaryotes may be protists, plants, animals, or fungi. They can be unicellular or they can be multicellular, which means they can be made up of many cells.
• 02:00 - 02:30 Like you! By the way, just to clarify: the word "prokaryote" is typically used to refer to the organism itself. When you are describing its cell, you are describing a prokaryotic cell. Same for eukaryote- "eukaryote" typically refers to the organism itself and when you describe its cells, those are eukaryotic cells. Prokaryotic cells and eukaryotic cells do have a lot in common. Both have DNA. That’s critical because DNA is the cells’ genetic material.
• 02:30 - 03:00 Both prokaryotic cells and eukaryotic cells have ribosomes, which are small organelles---an organelle being like a “tiny” organ. The ribosomes have the important job of making protein. Got to make protein. Both cell types have cytoplasm, the jelly like fluid within cells. Both of them have a cell membrane- also known as a plasma membrane- which is critical because it controls what goes in and out of the cell and therefore maintaining homeostasis.
• 03:00 - 03:30 All cells have a cell membrane! Now as for cell walls---most prokaryotic cells have cell walls. Many eukaryotic cells--- plant cells and fungus cells for example—can have cell walls. But there are plenty of eukaryotic cells that don’t have cell walls such as animal cells. What makes prokaryotic cells and eukaryotic cells different is especially interesting. Eukaryotic cells are more complex than prokaryotic cells. They tend to be larger than most prokaryotic cells.
• 03:30 - 04:00 And to help me remember some more differences in this next part, I like to remember that “pro” in prokaryote rhymes with “no” and “eu” in eukaryote rhymes with “do.” Prokaryotic cells have no nucleus to contain their DNA. So you will find their DNA is not contained within a nucleus; it’s a bit messy here. They have no membrane-bound organelles. Membrane-bound organelles are fancy organelles that have their own membrane like the nucleus, mitochondria, the endoplasmic reticulum, and the golgi apparatus.
• 04:00 - 04:30 A big indicator of eukaryotic cells is this nucleus- eukaryotic cells DO have a nucleus to contain their DNA. Depending on what type of eukaryotic cell it is---it could have different types of membrane-bound organelles. For example, a plant cell is likely to have chloroplasts while an animal cell would not. Wow, look at all this alphabetized vocabulary. If you want to try to practice your skills, pause the video and see how many of these
• 04:30 - 05:00 vocabulary words you can use to compare and contrast prokaryotic cells with eukaryotic cells. It’s important to grasp that all cells of living things fall in one of these two categories. And understanding the characteristics of these two cell types can help us better understand the diversity of living things whether they are archaea, bacteria, protists, fungi, plants, or animals. And in the case of my example- realizing whether an infection you’re dealing with involves
• 05:00 - 05:30 prokaryotic cells (such as bacteria) or eukaryotic cells (such as the fungus). Well that’s it for the Amoeba Sisters, and we remind you to stay curious!