Final answer:
Prokaryotes reproduce asexually primarily through a process known as binary fission, where the prokaryote splits into two identical daughter cells. The correct answer is D) Binary fission, as other mentioned options are not standard mechanisms of prokaryotic reproduction.
Step-by-step explanation:
Prokaryotes, such as bacteria, reproduce asexually primarily through a process called binary fission. This method involves a single, circular chromosome that is replicated, and the two resulting copies separate due to cell growth. Eventually, the prokaryotic cell enlarges and pinches inward, creating two identical daughter cells, or clones.
While binary fission does not allow for genetic recombination or diversity, prokaryotes can exchange genes through other mechanisms, contributing to genetic variation in other ways.
Given the options provided in the question, the correct answer to how prokaryotes reproduce asexually is D) Binary fission. Options A and C are not standard mechanisms of asexual reproduction in prokaryotes, and therefore, the response E) two of the above is also incorrect.