Organism in which the genetic material (RNA, DNA or analogue) is separated from the rest of the cell in a nucleus.

Usually there are also various organelles, and other substructures. Terragen examples include protista, fungi, and multicellular plants and animals (metazoa). Unlike Prokaryotes, Eukaryotes are rare and require special environmental conditions. Very often (although there are some xenobiont exceptions) eukaryotes require the high octane boost of oxygen or other strongly reactive elements to function, in contrast to the simple prokaryotes which can make do in almost any environment. On Earth oxygen produced through blue-green algae enabled the eukaryote cell to evolve. However, it is quite common for eukaryote cells to develop into higher and more complex life-forms, including intelligent life.
Appears in Topics
Development Notes
Text by M. Alan Kazlev

Initially published on 24 October 2001.