What distinguishes prokaryotic cells from eukaryotic cells?

Prokaryotic cells are distinguished from eukaryotic cells primarily by the absence of a membrane-bound nucleus. In prokaryotic cells, the genetic material is not contained within a defined nucleus; instead, it exists in a region called the nucleoid, which is not surrounded by a membrane. This is a fundamental structural difference that plays a significant role in the organization of cellular functions.

Additionally, prokaryotic cells tend to have a simpler structure compared to eukaryotic cells, which possess a variety of membrane-bound organelles, including the nucleus. This distinction helps in understanding how prokaryotes and eukaryotes evolved and the complexity of functions they are capable of performing.

While ribosomes are present in both cell types, they are not a distinguishing feature, since both eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells rely on ribosomes for protein synthesis. Cell walls differ across various organisms, as some eukaryotic cells (like plants and fungi) have cell walls, whereas many prokaryotes do as well, but not all (such as some species of bacteria). Size is another factor that generally separates the two, with prokaryotic cells usually being smaller than eukaryotic cells,