In what way do prokaryotes differ from eukaryotes?

Prokaryotes are distinguished from eukaryotes primarily by the absence of a nucleus. In prokaryotic cells, the genetic material is not enclosed within a membrane-bound nucleus; instead, it is located in a region called the nucleoid. This fundamental difference is crucial, as it affects how the cell processes genetic information and regulates gene expression.

Furthermore, eukaryotic cells possess membrane-bound organelles, such as the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus, which compartmentalize cellular functions and allow for greater specialization and efficiency. In contrast, prokaryotes lack these organelles, leading to simpler cellular structures.

While ribosomes are present in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes for protein synthesis, this characteristic does not differentiate the two groups. The statement that prokaryotes have "few proteins" is misleading; they can produce a variety of proteins, although their cellular machinery for protein synthesis is structurally simpler compared to eukaryotes. Therefore, the key difference remains the presence of a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles, fundamentally characterizing the complexity and organization of eukaryotic cells versus prokaryotic cells.