Final answer:
Megan can identify whether cells are prokaryotic or eukaryotic by checking for a nucleus and organelles. Prokaryotes lack a nucleus and are simpler, whereas eukaryotes have membrane-bound organelles and a nucleus.
Step-by-step explanation:
Megan is observing cells to determine if they are prokaryotic or eukaryotic. When identifying the cell types, it is important to note that prokaryotic cells, which include bacteria and archaea, lack a nucleus and are generally smaller and simpler in structure. On the other hand, eukaryotic cells include animal, plant, fungal, and protist cells, and have a well-organized, membrane-bound nucleus, along with various other organelles.
To conclude whether Megan's sketched cells are prokaryotic or eukaryotic, one would look for the presence of a nucleus and other membrane-bound organelles for eukaryotic cells or the absence of these features for prokaryotic cells. The criteria used generally involve differences in cell size, complexity, and the visibility of certain structures under a microscope, such as a nucleus, endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, etc. Megan's cell identifications could include: a. eukaryotic cells, b. bacterial prokaryotic cells, c. archaean prokaryotic cells, or d. a mix of bacterial and archaean prokaryotic cells, depending on those structural observations made under the microscope.