Final answer:
In prokaryotic cell division, the nuclear membrane is not visible because prokaryotic cells lack a defined nucleus. T
Step-by-step explanation:
During the division of a prokaryotic cell such as bacteria, the nuclear membrane cannot be seen dividing because prokaryotic cells lack a defined nucleus. Instead of a nucleus, prokaryotic cells have a nucleoid region, where the single, circular DNA chromosome is located.
The process of cell division in prokaryotes is called binary fission, a simpler and more rapid method than mitosis in eukaryotes. Mitosis involves complex steps like the formation of a mitotic spindle and the division of a nuclear membrane, which are not necessary in prokaryotic cell division. In binary fission, the DNA is replicated, and a protein called FtsZ forms a ring that guides the creation of a new cell wall, resulting in two separate daughter cells.
Binary fission in prokaryotes is significantly different from eukaryotic cell division since it does not require the packaging of DNA into chromosomes with histones. The absence of organelles like a defined nucleus simplifies the process. Therefore, there is no visible division of a nuclear membrane because prokaryotic cells simply do not possess one. This stark difference highlights the unique aspects of prokaryotic versus eukaryotic cell division.