Kaplan Nursing Entrance Practice Exam

Which characteristic describes prokaryotes?

1. They are unicellular organisms

2. They contain a nucleus

3. They are larger than eukaryotic cells

4. They always have a complex structure

The correct answer is: They are unicellular organisms

Prokaryotes are characterized by their unicellular nature, meaning they comprise a single cell. This trait is fundamental to their classification, as prokaryotes include organisms such as bacteria and archaea, which operate independently as single-celled entities. Unlike eukaryotic cells, which can be either unicellular or multicellular and possess a membrane-bound nucleus, prokaryotic cells lack this nucleus and organelle structure, emphasizing their simpler organization. In addition, prokaryotic cells are generally smaller than eukaryotic cells, which contrasts with one of the characteristics in the options. They also do not have the complex structures associated with eukaryotes, such as multiple chromosomes, membrane-bound organelles, and advanced cellular compartmentalization. Thus, the characteristic of being unicellular is distinctly representative of prokaryotes, making it the correct answer.