eukaryotes

Cells with nuclei

Eukaryotes are organisms whose cells contain a nucleus enclosed by a membrane—a category that includes animals, plants, fungi, and protists.

The term distinguishes these complex cells from prokaryotes like bacteria, whose genetic material floats freely.

Humans are eukaryotes; the bacteria in our gut are not.

diversity

protists

Eukaryotic microorganisms, mostly unicellular

  • fungiSpore-reproducing decomposers
  • plantsPhotosynthesizing rooted organisms
  • animalsMulticellular mobile organisms

algae · protozoa · yeast · amoeba · paramecium · diatoms · plankton · flagellates · slime molds · multicellular

cellular

mitochondria

Cell's energy-producing organelles

lysosomes · ribosomes · cytoskeleton · vacuoles · chloroplasts · cell membrane · peroxisomes · vesicles · microtubules · actin

genetics

chromosomes

Gene-bearing nuclear structures

  • DNAHereditary code molecule
  • RNAGene expression molecule
  • histonesDNA-winding nuclear proteins

gene expression · transcription · translation · replication · mitosis · meiosis · diploid · haploid · nucleolus · cell cycle

evolution

endosymbiosis

Organism living within another

adaptation · speciation · multicellularity · fossil record · Cambrian · ancestral · oxygen · aerobic

taxonomy

domain

Area of control

  • kingdomMonarch's ruled territory
  • phylumMajor classification rank
  • classGrouping by shared traits

order · family · genus · species · classification · phylogenetics · cladistics · taxon · monophyletic · common ancestor

Categories
Opposites
cellular organization

eukaryotesprokaryotes

Organisms without membrane-bound nuclei

bacteria · archaea · viruses

Family

eukaryote

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