What are the two basic types of cells that living organisms are made of?

Living organisms are fundamentally composed of two basic types of cells: prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Prokaryotic cells are simpler, smaller, and lack a true nucleus and membrane-bound organelles. They are characteristic of organisms such as bacteria and archaea. In contrast, eukaryotic cells are more complex, larger, and possess a true nucleus along with various membrane-bound organelles. This type of cell is found in a wide range of organisms, including animals, plants, fungi, and protists.

The classification into plant and animal cells, while important, does not encapsulate the entirety of cell types across all organisms. Additionally, asymmetrical and symmetrical do not refer to distinct types of cells but rather to shapes that can be exhibited by some cells. The distinction between animal and bacterial cells is too narrow and does not reflect the diversity of life, as it excludes other significant cell types such as those found in plants and fungi. Thus, understanding the difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells provides a more comprehensive framework for biological classification.