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AAT Bioquest

What are the similarities between bacteria and eukaryotes?

Posted February 9, 2023


Answer

There are several similarities between bacteria and eukaryotes. One similarity is that they are both living organisms, which grow, develop, and reproduce. They also both die at the conclusion of their life spans. Both have a cellular organization, and contain genetic material. They both use DNA as their code for genetic information. RNA is produced through transcription and then generating proteins through translation in both bacteria and eukaryotes. They also both possess a lipid bilayer  that acts as a selective barrier between the inside and outside environment of the cell. Ribosomes also exist in both bacteria and eukaryotes; bacteria have 70S ribosomes, eukaryotes have 80S ribosomes. The ribosomes assist in RNA translation and protein synthesis. Lastly, both have a cytoplasm.  In eukaryotes, the cytoplasm exists everywhere between the plasma membrane and nuclear envelope, including the organelles. In bacteria, the cytoplasm exists within the plasma membrane. 

Additional resources

The origin of eukaryotes: the difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.

MycoLight™ Flow Cytometric Live Bacteria Assay Kit