Biology STAAR (State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness) Practice Test

Eukaryotic cells are defined by their complex structure, one of the key characteristics being the presence of a nucleus. The nucleus serves as the control center, housing the cell's genetic material (DNA) and regulating various cellular activities, including growth, metabolism, and reproduction. This distinguishes eukaryotic cells from prokaryotic cells, which lack a true nucleus and have their genetic material dispersed throughout the cell.

Eukaryotic cells can be found in a diverse array of organisms, including animals, plants, fungi, and protists, and typically exhibit larger and more complex organization than prokaryotic cells. Understanding the role of the nucleus in eukaryotic cells is essential for grasping the larger concepts of cell biology, including how genetic information is managed and expressed within different types of organisms.