Okuzeka
Biology vocabulary · Cells and Levels of Organization

Eukaryote

Meaning in biology, with examples

/juːˈkæriˌoʊt/nounCommon term

In biology, eukaryote means: An organism whose cells have a true nucleus and membrane-bound organelles. Animals, plants, fungi and protists are all eukaryotes.

In Turkish: ökaryot, ökaryotik canlı

How it is used

As with prokaryote, the adjective eukaryotic is used more often: eukaryotic cell, eukaryotic gene expression. Eukaryotic cells are usually much larger and more complex than prokaryotic cells.

Example sentences

  1. Yeast is often used as a simple model of eukaryotic cells.

  2. Early eukaryotes probably gained mitochondria by engulfing an ancient bacterium.

Common collocations

  • eukaryotic cell
  • eukaryotic organism
  • single-celled eukaryote
  • eukaryotic genome
  • prokaryoteA single-celled organism whose cell has no nucleus and no membrane-bound organelles. Bacteria and archaea are prokaryotes.
  • nucleusThe large structure in a eukaryotic cell that holds most of its DNA and controls the cell's activities. It is surrounded by a double membrane called the nuclear envelope.
  • organelleA small structure inside a cell that has a specific job, such as the nucleus, mitochondria or chloroplasts. Most organelles are surrounded by their own membrane.
  • cellThe smallest unit of life that can survive on its own. Every living thing is made of one or more cells, and each cell is surrounded by a membrane.
  • mitochondrionAn organelle that releases energy from food molecules and stores it as ATP through aerobic respiration. It has two membranes and its own small set of DNA.

More terms: Cells and Levels of Organization

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