Eukaryotes
Eukaryotes
Eukaryotes (/juːˈkæri.oʊt, -ət/; from Greek εὖ 'good, well' and κάρυον 'nut, kernel') are organisms whose cells have a nucleus enclosed within a nuclear envelope. Eukaryotes are a fundamental division of life, which includes organisms such as animals, plants, and fungi, but not bacteria or archaea.
Etymology
The term "Eukaryote" is derived from the Greek words εὖ (eu), meaning "good" or "well", and κάρυον (karyon), meaning "nut" or "kernel". This is in reference to the nucleus, which is a defining characteristic of eukaryotic cells.
Characteristics
Eukaryotic cells are typically much larger than those of Prokaryotes. They have a variety of internal membrane-bound structures, collectively referred to as organelles. These include a nucleus, the endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, mitochondria, chloroplasts (in plants and algae), peroxisomes, and lysosomes.
Classification
Eukaryotes represent a domain of life, but within this domain there are multiple kingdoms. The most common classification creates four kingdoms within this domain: Protists, Fungi, Plants, and Animals.
Evolution
The origin and early evolution of eukaryotes are still not completely understood, but it is generally accepted that eukaryotes evolved from Prokaryotes through a process known as endosymbiosis.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Eukaryotes
- Wikipedia's article - Eukaryotes
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