Question

Prokaryotic cells can be distinguished from eukaryotic cells by the absence of?

1) a nucleus
2) DNA
3) a plasma membrane
4) All of these are absent.

Answer 1

Prokaryotic cells can be distinguished from eukaryotic cells through the absence of a nucleus(option 1); prokaryotic cells lack a membrane-bound nucleus, unlike eukaryotic cells.

Step-by-step explanation:

The student has asked how to distinguish prokaryotic cells from eukaryotic cells. Prokaryotic cells can be distinguished from eukaryotic cells by the absence of a nucleus.

Prokaryotic cells lack a membrane-bound nucleus, unlike eukaryotic cells which have a membrane-bound nucleus that contains their genetic material. In addition to the absence of a nucleus, prokaryotic cells also generally lack membrane-bound organelles.

While both cell types have a plasma membrane, cytoplasm, and DNA, and both conduct protein synthesis with ribosomes, the key difference lies in the fact that prokaryotic cells do not have a membrane-bound nucleus or internal membrane-bound organelles, which eukaryotic cells do possess. Therefore, the correct option is 1) a nucleus.