Prokaryotic cells have any organelles?

[evointrigued]

Do prokaryotic cells have any organelles, or do they just have no membranous organelles?

[mith]

ribosomes

[evointrigued]

Thanks. Is that the only organelle prokaryotic cells have?

[MrMistery]

yes.
and be careful with this. it is an increasing tendency not to consider a ribosome an organelle. instead, modern biochemistry books define ribosomes as "supramolecular nucleoproteic particles" or similar things.

[BDeis]

If you are asking this question for a class, the answer is no..proks do not have organells. That is what the prof. is looking for because that is probably what it says in your book. There is debate about Ribosomes being organelles but I think the majority of biologists would say they are not. Why not ask you prof. what he or she thinks about it. You may get some brownie points.

[dr. dugmore]

yes.
and be careful with this. it is an increasing tendency not to consider a ribosome an organelle. instead, modern biochemistry books define ribosomes as "supramolecular nucleoproteic particles" or similar things.

cool!

[thank.darwin]

The key point is that Prokaryotes do not have any membrane bound organelles. Only ribosomes, which as stated earlier might not even be considered organelles

[TyphonandFafnir]

of course, some people don't consider DNA and RNA to be organelles, but they pretty much are, there are many more organelles to prokaryotic cells than the other people are letting on, they must be able to adapt to environments, and everything else that every other living thing does, that means there must be more than ribosomes in a prokaryotic cell. lysosomes and mitochondrion are in some of them, but all of them have cytoplasm (cytoskeleton and cytosol) and membranes!!!!!!!!!!! Yes, those ARE organelles!

[jonmoulton]

I always found it unfair that the thylakoid membranes of cyanobacteria are not considered organelles. I think this is some kind of prejudice against cells with non-enveloped genomes. Perhaps the cyanos should shut off their thylakoids for a month and see how all those uppity euks feel.

Hmmm, on the other hand let's hold off on that plan, OK?

@TyphonandFafnir -- which prokaryote contains a mitochondrion?