Question

What functions of life do prokaryotic cells carry out?

Answer 1

Prokaryotes are essentially a more primitive kind of cell - eukaryotes are larger because they have adapted from prokaryotes through evolution, and their complexity allows support for the larger cell. The smaller size of a prokaryote gives it a larger surface area to volume ratio, meaning that in the absence of various carrier systems found in eukaryotes, such as golgi complexes and vesicles, metabolic compounds and various nutrients are easily diffused into the various parts of the cell to where it needs to get to. Because they are generally less complicated than eukaryotes (the amount of DNA and number of genes is significantly less), they are able to perform the basic functions of life in a smaller cell.