The Core Difference: A Nucleus
The primary difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells is that eukaryotic cells have a membrane-bound nucleus that contains their genetic material, while prokaryotic cells do not. In prokaryotes, the DNA floats freely in the cytoplasm in a region called the nucleoid.
Organelles and Complexity
Eukaryotic cells are generally larger and more complex, containing various other membrane-bound structures called organelles, such as mitochondria, the endoplasmic reticulum, and Golgi apparatus. Prokaryotic cells are simpler and lack these specialized organelles, performing all their functions within the cytoplasm.