Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of prokaryotic cells?

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Question restatement: Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of prokaryotic cells?

Option 1: Cell wall. Prokaryotic cells often have a rigid cell wall made of peptidoglycan (in bacteria) or similar materials in archaea. This is a common characteristic.

Option 2: Cell membrane. Prokaryotes possess a cell membrane (plasma membrane) that enclose the cytoplasm and regulate transport. This is a fundamental feature.

Option 3: DNA. Prokaryotic cells contain DNA, typically a single circular chromosome located in the nucleoid region, not within a membrane-bound nucleus. This is a defining trait.

Option 4: Endoplasmic reticulum. The endoplasmic reticulum is a membrane-bound organelle characteristic of eukaryotic cells, involved in protein and lipid processing. Prokaryotes lack membrane-bound organelles, including the ER, so this feature is not present.

Option 5: Cytosol. Prokaryotic cells have cytosol, the fluid inside the cell where metabolic processes occur. This is a normal component.

Analysis of each option:
- For the first option, the presence of a cell wall is typical for many prokaryotes, so this is a characteristic of prokaryotic cells.
- For the second option, the cell membrane is essential for all cells, including prokaryotes, so this is also a prokaryotic feature.
- For the third option, DNA in the form of a single circular chromosome within the nucleoid region is a hallmark of prokaryotes, so this is correct as a prokaryotic trait.
- For the fourth option, endoplasmic reticulum is a hallmark of eukaryotic cells and is absent in prokaryotes; this makes it not a characteristic of prokaryotic cells.
- For the fifth option, cytosol is the aqueous component of the cell interior in prokaryotes as well, so this is another prokaryotic feature.

In summary, among the listed options, the feature that does not characterize prokaryotic cells is the endoplasmic reticulum, since prokaryotes lack membrane-bound organelles like the ER, while all the other options describe typical prokaryotic cell components or features.

2025 T3 DP DPST1051 BLSC1342 Molecules, Cells and Genes

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of prokaryotic cells?

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