Are Protists Prokaryotic or Eukaryotic?
By: Kate Latham
Last Updated: February 26, 2021
Protists are eukaryotic organisms. Kingdom Protista contains all of the eukaryotic organisms that are not plants, animals, or fungi. Protists are eukaryotic organisms Classification of Protists Kingdom Protista contains a highly diverse group of organisms, with few similarities between them. Protists are classified as animal-like (protozoa), plant-like (algae), or fungi-like (molds) based on characteristics they share with animals, plants, and fungi. Eukaryotic vs. Prokaryotic Cells The main difference between eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells is that eukaryotes contain membrane-bound organelles, whereas prokaryotes do not. As eukaryotic organisms, protists contain a nucleus and other membrane-bound organelles such as endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus. Most protists also contain mitochondria, and some contain chloroplasts for photosynthesis. Many fungi-like and plant-like protists also have a cell wall. To learn more about the structure of protist cells, click here.
Classification of Protists
Kingdom Protista contains a highly diverse group of organisms, with few similarities between them. Protists are classified as animal-like (protozoa), plant-like (algae), or fungi-like (molds) based on characteristics they share with animals, plants, and fungi.
Eukaryotic vs. Prokaryotic Cells
The main difference between eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells is that eukaryotes contain membrane-bound organelles, whereas prokaryotes do not. As eukaryotic organisms, protists contain a nucleus and other membrane-bound organelles such as endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus. Most protists also contain mitochondria, and some contain chloroplasts for photosynthesis. Many fungi-like and plant-like protists also have a cell wall.
To learn more about the structure of protist cells, click here.
