Prokaryotic vs Eukaryotic Cell

View Prokaryotic vs Eukaryotic Cell MicroSim Fullscreen

How to Use This Diagram

Explore Mode — Hover over any numbered marker or label to see the structure's name, description, and bioinformatics relevance in the info panel below the image.

Quiz Mode — Click the Quiz button. Labels are hidden and markers show ?. Click the correct marker for each prompted structure. Your score is tracked.

Edit Mode — Append ?edit=true to the URL to calibrate marker positions. Drag markers to align with the image, then click "Copy JSON" to export updated coordinates.

Labeled Structures

Prokaryotic Cell (Left Panel)

1. Cell wall — rigid peptidoglycan layer providing structural support
2. Plasma membrane (prokaryote) — phospholipid bilayer controlling transport and hosting the electron transport chain
3. Nucleoid region — non-membrane-bound area containing the circular chromosome
4. Plasmid — small circular DNA molecule replicating independently of the chromosome
5. Ribosomes (prokaryote) — 70S molecular machines for mRNA translation
6. Flagellum — helical protein filament for motility
7. Pili — short protein appendages for adhesion and gene transfer

Eukaryotic Cell (Right Panel)

1. Plasma membrane (eukaryote) — phospholipid bilayer with cholesterol and glycolipids
2. Nucleus — membrane-bound organelle housing chromosomal DNA
3. Nucleolus — dense substructure for rRNA transcription and ribosome assembly
4. Rough endoplasmic reticulum — ribosome-studded membrane network for protein synthesis and folding
5. Golgi apparatus — stacked cisternae for protein modification and sorting
6. Mitochondrion — double-membrane organelle for ATP production via oxidative phosphorylation
7. Ribosomes (eukaryote) — 80S molecular machines for mRNA translation
8. Cytoplasm — gel-like interior containing organelles and metabolic machinery