One difference is the size of the ribosomes. Prokaryotic ribosomes are smaller than eukaryotic ribosomes, with a diameter of about 15-20 nanometers (nm) compared to about 25-30 nm for eukaryotic ribosomes.
Another difference is the structure of the ribosomes. Prokaryotic ribosomes are composed of two subunits, a small subunit and a large subunit, which are made up of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and proteins. Eukaryotic ribosomes also have two subunits, but they are larger and more complex, with four rRNA species and more proteins.
A third difference is the location of the ribosomes. Prokaryotic ribosomes are found throughout the cytoplasm, while eukaryotic ribosomes are found in the cytosol as well as in organelles such as the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and the Golgi apparatus.
Despite these differences, prokaryotic and eukaryotic ribosomes have many similarities. Both types of ribosomes are involved in the synthesis of proteins by reading the information encoded in messenger RNA (mRNA) and using it to synthesize a specific protein. Both types of ribosomes also have similar functions, such as helping to fold and modify proteins as they are being synthesized.