eukaryote

Thân thiện

A student observes a eukaryote cell under a microscope.

Definition

Noun: An organism whose cells contain a nucleus and other organelles enclosed within membranes. This cellular structure is characteristic of all complex life forms, including animals, plants, and fungi, distinguishing them from prokaryotes (like bacteria) which lack a membrane-bound nucleus.

Usage

The term is used in biology to classify and describe organisms based on their fundamental cellular architecture. * All multicellular life forms you can see, such as humans, trees, and mushrooms, are eukaryotes. * The defining feature of a eukaryote is the presence of a membrane-bound nucleus containing its genetic material (DNA). * Biologists study the evolution from simple prokaryotic cells to more complex eukaryotic cells.

Advanced Usage

• Eukaryogenesis: The evolutionary process by which eukaryotic cells arose from prokaryotic ancestors.
  • The study of eukaryogenesis is crucial to understanding the origin of complex life.
• As a taxonomic domain: Eukarya is one of the three domains of life, alongside Bacteria and Archaea.
  • The domain Eukarya encompasses all organisms with eukaryotic cells.

Variants and Related Words

• Eukaryotic (adjective): Of or relating to a eukaryote or eukaryotes; having cells with a membrane-bound nucleus.
  • Plant and animal cells are eukaryotic.
• Eukaryosis (noun): The condition of being eukaryotic.
• Prokaryote (noun): An organism whose cells do not have a nucleus enclosed by a membrane (e.g., bacteria). This is the direct antonym in biological classification.

Synonyms

• Eukaryotic organism
• (In taxonomic context) Member of Eukarya

Related Phrases and Concepts

• Membrane-bound organelle: A specialized structure within a eukaryotic cell, such as the nucleus, mitochondria, or Golgi apparatus, enclosed by a membrane.
  • The presence of membrane-bound organelles is a key trait of eukaryotes.
• Endosymbiotic theory: The leading scientific theory explaining the origin of certain eukaryotic organelles (mitochondria and chloroplasts) from formerly free-living prokaryotes.
  • The endosymbiotic theory provides a framework for how eukaryotic cells became more complex.

Học thuật

Noun

1. an organism with cells characteristic of all life forms except primitive microorganisms such as bacteria; i.e. an organism with `good' or membrane-bound nuclei in its cells

Từ đồng nghĩa

• eucaryote