Prokaryotes utilize binary fission for cellular division. Binary fission involves asexual reproduction of prokaryotes. First the cell grows and duplicates its genome, and any plasmids. The cell polarizes itself, then begins forming a cell wall to divide the cell into two slightly smaller cells. Eukaryotes use mitosis, and meiosis. Sexual reproduction occurs in some phyla of eukaryotes.

Prokaryotes do not have membrane-bound organelles, such as mitochondria or an endoplasmic reticulum.

Flagella are hair-like structures that allow the cell to move, and are present in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Although prokaryotes don't have multiple chromosomes like eukaryotes, they do still have DNA in the form of a cyclic chromosome. Ribosomes are not bound by a membrane, and are essential to the process of translation, which creates proteins in the cell. Prokaryotes and eukaryotes possess ribosomes in order to form functional proteins.

To compare each trait, consider a bacterium as an example of a prokaryote and a plant or animal cell as an example of a eukaryote.

I. Contains membrane-bound organelles—membrane-bound organelles are a defining characteristic of eukaryotes, and are not found in prokaryotes.

II. Undergoes glycolysis—glycolysis is used by both prokaryotes and eukaryotes as a part of cellular respiration

III. Contains ribosomes—ribosomes are responsible for protein synthesis. All living cells must be capable of synthesizing proteins in order to function.

IV. Has a cell wall—cell walls are not found in animal cells, but are present in plant cells and bacteria.

Glycolysis, ribosomes, and cell walls can be found in both eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells.

In general, prokaryotic cells are smaller and less complex than eukaryotic cells. They lack membrane-bound organelles (such as mitochondria) and contain a nucleoid region instead of a membrane-bound nucleus. They do have ribosomes, but those are small (70S) and composed of one 30S and one 50S subunit. Only eukaryotic ribosomes are 80S. Finally, both prokaryotes and eukaryotes are encased in cell membranes.

One difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells is the organization and storage of genetic material. Both use DNA in the double-helix structure. In eukaryotes, this DNA is stored as chromatin or chromosomes within the nucleus, but in prokaryotes it is stored in a circular bundle known as the nucleoid in the cytoplasm.

When comparing prokaryotes to eukaryotes, the main fact to remember is that prokaryotes do not contain membrane-bound organelles. This means they have no mitochondria, Golgi apparatus, or endoplasmic reticulum. They also lack a membrane-bound nucleus, although they do have genetic material located in a nucleoid region. Prokaryotic cells are surrounded by a plasma membrane, and some types of bacteria have cell walls as well.

Unlike eukaryotes, prokaryotes have no membrane-bound organelles. This means that they lack a nucleus, mitochondria, and other advanced cell structures.

All cells rely on protein components in order to function. Protein synthesis takes place on ribosomes, which can be found in all cell types. In prokaryotes, ribosomes are free floating the cytoplasm; in eukaryotes, ribosomes can be free floating in the cytoplasm, bound to the rough endoplasmic reticulum, in mitochondria, or in chloroplasts.

The only group organisms listed without cell walls are mammals. All of the other organisms may or may not have cell walls. For example, some fungi, but not all, have cell walls made of chitin. Bacteria, but not Archaea, have cell walls made of peptidoglycan, and plants have cell walls made of cellulose. A small subset of protists may also contain cell walls.

Remember that even fungi have well-seen nuclei and that the presence of a nucleus is what makes a eukaryote a eukaryote. Archaea are their own domain and they are as small as bacteria and other prokaryotes but are quite different. They live in extreme environments and often we cannot study them due to that but we have studied some such as the halophiles (salt-loving archaea).

Prokaryotes do not contain membrane-bound organelles so they do not have a Golgi apparatus. Prokaryotic cells have cell membranes that include proteins and sugars that facilitate the passage and/or exclusion of certain substances into and out of the cell. Also, prokaryotic cells have ribosomes since they must also do translation, the act of translating RNA to protein in the cytoplasm. The cytosol is the area inside the cell membrane of the cell. The Golgi apparatus is membrane-bound and is thus only found in eukaryotic cells.

The organism is likely a prokaryotic organism, since it lacks a nuclear membrane and mitochondria. Prokaryotes lack all membrane-bound organelles, including nuclei, mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, chloroplasts, and lysosomes.

Both prokaryotes and eukaryotes contain ribosomes. Ribosomes are not membrane-bound, and are primarily composed of rRNA. Prokaryotes require ribosomes in order to synthesize proteins.

Cilia are composed of microtubules. While many prokaryotes have cilia, we cannot draw any conclusions without knowing more about the identity of the organism.