Which statement correctly describes a common characteristic of prokaryotes?

• A. Have a cell wall
• B. Have a true nucleus
• C. Lack a cell wall
• D. Are always multicellular

Answer: (A)

Prokaryotes are typically characterized by having a cell wall that gives the cell its shape and protection. In bacteria, this wall is made of peptidoglycan, while in archaea it’s built from different polymers, but the presence of a cell wall is a common feature that helps distinguish prokaryotes from many other cell types. They do not have a true, membrane-bound nucleus, which makes the statement about a nucleus incorrect. They are also usually unicellular, so the idea that they are always multicellular doesn’t fit. While there are exceptions that lack a cell wall, the most consistent and broadly applicable description among the options is that prokaryotes have a cell wall.