A prokaryote is a single-celled organism whose cell lacks a nucleus and other membrane-bound organelles. The word prokaryote comes from the Ancient Greek πρό (pró), meaning 'before', and κάρυον (káruon), meaning … See more

Bacteria and archaea reproduce through asexual reproduction, usually by binary fission. Genetic exchange and recombination occur by horizontal gene transfer, not involving replication. DNA transfer between prokaryotic cells occurs in bacteria and … See more

The first organisms
A widespread current model of the origin of life is that the first organisms were prokaryotes. These … See more

Taxonomic history
The distinction between prokaryotes and eukaryotes was established by the microbiologists Roger Stanier and C. B. van Niel in their 1962 paper The concept of a bacterium (though spelled procaryote and eucaryote … See more

The cellular components of prokaryotes are not enclosed in membranes within the cytoplasm, like eukaryotic organelles. Bacteria have See more

Prokaryotes are strictly unicellular, but most can form stable aggregate communities in biofilms. Bacterial biofilms are formed by the … See more

Prokaryotes have diversified greatly throughout their long existence. Their metabolism is far more varied than that of eukaryotes, leading to many highly distinct types. For example, prokaryotes may obtain energy by chemosynthesis. Prokaryotes live … See more