noun
- Organisms whose cells contain a membrane-bound nucleus and other membrane-bound organelles; includes animals, plants, fungi, and protists.
Usage: plural of eucaryote; also spelled eukaryotes (more common modern spelling); biology term
Examples
- Eucaryotes are more complex than prokaryotes because they have a true nucleus.
- Most eucaryotes are multicellular, though some protists are single-celled eucaryotes.
- The evolution of eucaryotes marked a major transition in the history of life on Earth.
- Humans, plants, and fungi are all examples of eucaryotes.
- Eucaryotes typically have larger cells than bacteria and archaea.