Final answer:
The genetic material of a prokaryotic cell is present in a nucleoid, a region of the cell that lacks a boundary membrane. The nucleoid contains the bacterial chromosome and can also contain plasmids.
Step-by-step explanation:
The genetic material of a prokaryotic cell is present in a nucleoid, a poorly demarcated region of the cell that lacks a boundary membrane to separate it from the surrounding cytoplasm. This is in contrast to eukaryotic cells, which have their genetic material enclosed within a membrane-bound nucleus. The nucleoid contains the single, circular bacterial chromosome and may also contain smaller loops of DNA called plasmids.