Question

Are E. coli prokaryotic or eukaryotic?

Answer 1

Hint: Prokaryotic organisms are organisms which contain a single prokaryotic cell. These contain bacteria and archaea. They are mainly 0.1-5µm in diameter and their DNA is not present within a nucleus. Their genetic material or DNA is circular in shape and found in the nucleoid which floats into the cytoplasm.
Eukaryotic organisms are organisms which contain a eukaryotic cell. They are present in plants, animals, fungi and protists. They are 10-100µm in diameter and their DNA or genetic material is linear in shape and contained into a membrane-bound nucleus and have cell organelles like ER, Golgi bodies, etc.

Complete answer:
E. coli stands for Escherichia coli. It is a rod-shaped bacteria. It mainly lives inside the human intestines and mammals intestines. It is not very harmful for the health of an organism but many variations of E.coli are harmful. E. coli causes pneumonia and urinary tract infection if we eat contaminated food or drink contaminated water. Their symptoms typically set in within 2-3 days of infection like tiredness, high fever, diarrhea, kidney failure, etc.
When we see the E. coli structure, for the identification the following features kept in mind –
The E. coli does not have a membrane bound nucleus and their genetic material floats over the cell cytoplasm. They also lack cell organelles like ER, Golgi bodies, etc. So, by this it is clear that E. coli is a prokaryotic organism.

Note-
Nowadays, E. coli is considered as an organism between the prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms by many biologists. Some scientists say that E. coli is a eukaryotic organism but based on their characteristics they are considered as prokaryotic organisms.