# The Domain Eukarya --- The **domain eukarya** is the [[domains of life]] of life that consists of organisms whose cells contain a membrane-bound [[nucleus|nucleus]] as well as other membrane-bound [[organelle|organelles]]. "Eukarya" is from the Greek *eu karyon*, or "good nut"/"true kernel". Eukaryotes can be unicellular, but they usually are multicellular. [[Protozoa]] are an example of a unicellular eukaryote. Although the sheer number of eukaryotes are much smaller than the number of [[prokaryote|prokayrotes]], as the individuals are typically much larger, they are about equal in terms of total biomass worldwide. ![[human cell.png]] ## Features of all Eukaryotic Cells All eukaryotic cells have: [[nucleus|nuclei]] [[organelle|organelles]], specifically the [[mitochondria]]. Most eukaryotes also have an [[extracellular matrix]]. ### Somatic Cells vs Gametes There are two broad catagories of cells in eukarotic organisms, somatic cells and gametes. A **somatic cell** is any cell that is not a [[gamete]], and a gamete is a sperm or an egg. ## Kingdoms in Eukarya [[Plants]], [[animals]], [[fungi]], [[protozoa]] are all kingdoms in the domain of Eukarya. ### Differences Between Plants and Animal Cells Generally speaking the differences between plant and animal cells are features that plants have that animals. Plants | Animals -------|-------- have a [[cell wall]] | no cell wall [[photosynthesis\|photosynthesize]] | do not photosynthesize have a [[plants#Central Vacuole\|central vacuole]] | no central ![[plant and animal cell.png]] ## Evolution Eukaryotes did not rise up until about 1 billion years ago and generally could not have come about without oxygen produced from [[bacteria|cyanobacteria]]. The leading theory is that ___