Final answer:
Prokaryotes are more adept at picking up and incorporating foreign DNA from their environment
Step-by-step explanation:
Prokaryotes are more adept at picking up and incorporating foreign DNA from their environment through a process known as transformation. In this process, a prokaryote takes in DNA that has been released into the environment by other prokaryotes through cellular lysis. This DNA is often single-stranded, as double-stranded foreign DNA is typically destroyed by cellular nucleases as a defense mechanism. However, these nucleases are generally ineffective against single-stranded DNA, allowing it to potentially recombine with the bacterial genome, creating recombinant DNA. If the new DNA confers beneficial properties, such as antibiotic resistance or toxigenicity, the recipient cell's survival capabilities may improve significantly. This horizontal gene transfer, including through plasmids, is crucial for bacterial adaptation and evolution.