prokaryote

American  

[proh-kar-ee-oht, -ee-uht] / proʊˈkær iˌoʊt, -i ət /

Sometimes procaryote

noun

Biology.

1. any cellular organism that has no nuclear membrane, no organelles in the cytoplasm except ribosomes, and has its genetic material in the form of single continuous strands forming coils or loops, characteristic of all organisms in the kingdom Monera, as the bacteria.

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prokaryote British  

/ prəʊˈkærɪɒt, prəʊˌkærɪˈɒtɪk /

noun

1. any organism having cells in each of which the genetic material is in a single DNA chain, not enclosed in a nucleus. Bacteria and archaeans are prokaryotes Compare eukaryote

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prokaryote Scientific  

/ prō-kăr′ē-ōt′ /

1. Any of a wide variety of one-celled organisms of the kingdom Monera (or Prokaryota) that are the most primitive and ancient known forms of life. Prokaryotes lack a distinct cell nucleus and their DNA is not organized into chromosomes. They also lack the internal structures bound by membranes called organelles, such as mitochondria. At the molecular level, prokaryotes differ from eukaryotes in the structure of their lipids and of certain metabolic enzymes, and in how genes are expressed for protein synthesis. Prokaryotes reproduce asexually and include the bacteria and blue-green algae.

2. Also called moneran

3. Compare eukaryote See Table at taxonomy

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• procaryotic
  adjective
• prokaryotic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of prokaryote

First recorded in 1960–65; from French procaryote, from New Latin Prokaryota (neuter plural), from Greek pro- prefix + Greek káry(on) “nut” + -ote ( def. ); see pro- ², Eukaryota

Explanation

A prokaryote is a single-celled organism that doesn't have a nucleus. Bacteria are one familiar type of prokaryote. If you take a biology class, you're likely to learn about prokaryotes, tiny organisms without a distinct nucleus bound by a membrane, like most other living things. Prokaryotes are often contrasted with the single-celled or multicellular eukaryotes, which do have a nucleus. The word prokaryote is rooted in Greek — it combines the word pro, "before," with karyon, "nut or kernel."