Question

4
this chart shows characteristics of four different cells observed under a microscope.
which is most likely a prokaryotic cell?
a cell 1
b cell 2
c cell 3
d cell 4

Explanation:

Prokaryotic cells lack membrane - bound organelles like mitochondria, chloroplasts (in most cases) and have a cell wall (in some prokaryotes like bacteria) and ribosomes. Let's analyze each cell:

• Cell 1: Has mitochondria, so not prokaryotic (eukaryotes have mitochondria).
• Cell 2: Has chloroplast and mitochondria, so eukaryotic (plant cell, as it has chloroplast and cell wall).
• Cell 3: Let's check its organelles. Wait, from the table, Cell 3 has cell wall and ribosome but no mitochondria or chloroplast? Wait, no, looking at the table again: Cell 3: Cell Wall (yes), Chloroplast (no), Mitochondria (no), Ribosome (yes). Wait, no, the original table: Let's re - examine. The columns are Cell 1, 2, 3, 4. Rows: Cell Wall, Chloroplast, Mitochondria, Ribosome.
• Cell 1: Cell Wall (no), Chloroplast (no), Mitochondria (yes), Ribosome (yes)
• Cell 2: Cell Wall (yes), Chloroplast (yes), Mitochondria (yes), Ribosome (yes)
• Cell 3: Cell Wall (yes), Chloroplast (no), Mitochondria (no), Ribosome (yes)
• Cell 4: Cell Wall (yes), Chloroplast (no), Mitochondria (yes), Ribosome (yes)

Prokaryotic cells do not have membrane - bound organelles (like mitochondria, chloroplasts). So they have ribosomes (non - membrane - bound) and may have a cell wall (like bacteria). So among the cells, Cell 3: has cell wall, ribosome, no mitochondria (membrane - bound) and no chloroplast (membrane - bound). Wait, but Cell 3: Mitochondria (no), Chloroplast (no), Cell Wall (yes), Ribosome (yes). That fits prokaryotic cell characteristics (no membrane - bound organelles, has ribosomes, may have cell wall). Wait, but let's check again. Wait, the options are A. Cell 1, B. Cell 2, C. Cell 3, D. Cell 4.

Wait, maybe I misread. Let's re - express the table:

Cell	Cell Wall	Chloroplast	Mitochondria	Ribosome
2	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️
3	✔️			✔️
4	✔️		✔️	✔️

Prokaryotic cells have no membrane - bound organelles (mitochondria, chloroplasts are membrane - bound). So they should not have mitochondria or chloroplasts. So Cell 3: has cell wall, ribosome, no mitochondria, no chloroplast. That is consistent with a prokaryotic cell (like a bacterial cell, which has cell wall, ribosomes, and no membrane - bound organelles). Cell 1: has mitochondria (membrane - bound), so eukaryotic (animal cell maybe, no cell wall). Cell 2: has mitochondria and chloroplast (eukaryotic, plant cell). Cell 4: has mitochondria (membrane - bound), so eukaryotic. So Cell 3 is most likely prokaryotic. So the answer is C. Cell 3.

Answer:

C. Cell 3