Cell Types - Prokaryotic vs. Eukaryotic

There is more than one type of cell. The first organisms on Earth were prokaryotes that could withstand the extreme conditions found in the environment billions of years ago. Scientists believe that these cells developed from the synthesis of organic molecules from reactions in the oceans. These organic molecules formed associations that eventually became the first cells. The first prokaryotic cells gave rise to photosynthetic cells, which added oxygen to the atmosphere and made the conditions on earth beneficial to the evolution of the eukaryotic cell.

In this topic, you also learned the common features of all cells, as well as the differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Some of these differences include the lack of a nucleus and membrane organelles in prokaryotic cells.