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Would this cell most likely be classified as a prokaryote or eukaryote?

A. This cell is a prokaryote because it has the tail-like structure and no organelles.
B. This cell is a eukaryote because it has a nucleus and other specialized organelles.
C. This cell is a prokaryote because no nucleus is present, and it is not a complex cell.
D. This cell is a eukaryote because it does not show a cell wall or ribosomes.

User ColinD
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1 Answer

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Final answer:

The correct classification for the cell in question is a prokaryote, as it lacks a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles, which are defining features of eukaryotic cells.

Step-by-step explanation:

This cell would most likely be classified as a prokaryote, as indicated by option C: 'This cell is a prokaryote because no nucleus is present, and it is not a complex cell.' Prokaryotic cells are defined as simple, single-celled organisms that lack a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles. They typically have DNA localized in a region called the nucleoid, and while they do generally have ribosomes and a plasma membrane, they do not contain the complex organelles that define eukaryotic cells.

The description from option C matches the key characteristics of a prokaryotic cell such as a bacterium, which includes the absence of a nucleus and relatively simpler internal structures when compared to eukaryotic cells. Unlike prokaryotes, eukaryotic cells, such as those of animals and plants, contain a membrane-bound nucleus and various other organelles responsible for specialized functions.

User Nej Kutcharian
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