prokaryotic, a. Biol.
(prəʊkærɪˈɒtɪk)
Also -caryotic.
[f. as prec. + -ic.]
Having no nuclear membrane in its cell; belonging to the group of organisms so characterized, which comprises bacteria and blue-green algæ. Opp. eukaryotic.
| 1957 [see prokaryon a.]. 1969 [see conidium]. 1974 Taxon XXIII. 246 Cells with a general organization between entire prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells have not been found. 1976 Sci. Amer. Feb. 35/2 Bacteria are prokaryotic cells, that is, their genetic material is distributed throughout the cytoplasm. 1976 W. C. Schefler Biol. xiii. 242/1 Procaryotic cells..lack mitochondria, chloroplasts, an endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi bodies, and lysosomes. |