Home > Science Group > Question and Answer

Science Group

Question:

hp28
hp28
Student
High School - 11th Grade

Is there a greater fundamental difference between plants and animals or between prokaryotes and eukaryotes?

Rate question:

Posted by hp28 on Sunday March 22, 2009 at 7:07 PM and tagged with conceptual difference, kingdoms, science.

Answers:


  1. gbeatty Teacher
    College - Freshman

    eNotes Editor

    An interesting question! To be honest, this is like comparing apples and oranges, or maybe apples and puppies. Both plant/animal distinctions and prokaryotes/ eukaryotes distinctions are major, and understanding both are essential for understanding biology. However, if I had to choose, I'd say the prokaryotes/ eukaryotes difference is larger. I have two general reasons for this. First, the distinction between bound cells that can live independently and cells that only survive as tissue is huge. Second, evolutionarily this split is earlier. (Plants and animals came from the prokaryotes/ eukaryotes split, and so are derivative.)

    Sources:
    http://www.essortment.com/all/prokaryoteseuka_rgbo.htm

    Rate answer:

    Posted by gbeatty on Monday March 23, 2009 at 10:16 AM