Figure 4

Volume of cytoplasm controlled by a single genome. The long reach of the eukaryotic gene. Mean eukaryotic cell volume is 15,000 times greater than mean bacterial cell volume (red circle), and is controlled by a single nuclear genome. In the case of Thiomargarita (yellow circle) the cell volume is larger than most eukaryotic cells but is mostly filled with inert vacuole. The band of active cytoplasm contains multiple nucleoids, each one governing a volume of cytoplasm equivalent to a single E. coli cell, hence volume per gene is prokaryotic.