Eukaryote
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A eukaryote (juːˌkarɪəʊt), also spelled eucaryote, is an organism with complex cells. In those cells the genetic material is organized into membrane-bound nuclei. Eukaryotes are formed of animals, plants, and fungi — which are mostly multicellular. There are also various other groups that are collectively classified as protists. Many protists are unicellular organisms.
In contrast, other organisms, such as bacteria, do not have nuclei and other complex cell structures. Such organisms are called prokaryotes. The eukaryotes share a common origin, and are often treated formally as a superkingdom, empire, or domain. The name comes from the Greek eu (meaning good) and karyon (meaning nut). The nut is a reference to the cell nucleus.
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Eukaryotic cells are generally much larger than prokaryotes, typically a thousand times by volume. They have a variety of internal membranes and structures, called organelles. They have a cytoskeleton. The cytoskeleton is composed of microtubules and microfilaments. Those components play an important role in the cell's organization. Eukaryotic DNA is divided into several bundles called chromosomes, which are separated by a microtubular spindle during nuclear division. In addition to asexual cell division, most eukaryotes have some process of sexual reproduction via cell fusion, which is not found among prokaryotes.
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