Final answer:
Courtney has discovered a prokaryotic cell, identifiable by its lack of a nucleus and the presence of DNA in the nucleoid region, which differentiates it from eukaryotic and embryonic cells. Therefore , the correct answer options is c)
Step-by-step explanation:
Courtney is looking at a prokaryotic cell. This type of cell is characterized by the lack of a nucleus and the presence of DNA in the cytoplasm within a region known as the nucleoid.
Unlike eukaryotic cells that have membrane-bound organelles and a defined nucleus, prokaryotic cells are simpler, and their genetic material is not enclosed within a nuclear membrane. Prokaryotic organisms are typically single-celled, like bacteria and archaea, and their cells are often smaller and simpler than those of eukaryotes.
Therefore, based on the description, Courtney's cell does not fit the characteristics of an embryonic cell or a eukaryotic cell, but it does match the description of a prokaryotic cell.
Prokaryotic cells, such as bacterial cells and archaeal cells, contain a singular circular chromosome that resides within the nucleoid region.