Title: prokaryote
Long Title: IUPAC Gold Book - prokaryote
DOI: 10.1351/goldbook.16009
Status: current

Definition
Unicellular organism, characterized by the absence of a membrane-enclosed nucleus.

Note
Prokaryotes include bacteria, blue–green algae, and mycoplasmas.

Source
- PAC, 2007, 79, 1153. 'Glossary of terms used in toxicology, 2nd edition (IUPAC Recommendations 2007)' on page 1290 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac200779071153)

Other Outputs
- html: https://goldbook.iupac.org/terms/view/16009/html
- json: https://goldbook.iupac.org/terms/view/16009/json
- xml: https://goldbook.iupac.org/terms/view/16009/xml

Citation: Citation: 'prokaryote' in IUPAC Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 5th ed. International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; 2025. Online version 5.0.0, 2025. 10.1351/goldbook.16009
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Accessed: 2026-04-17T23:54:32+00:00