A student observed cells of a familiar species under a microscope. Analyze the observations the student recorded in the chart below.
1. Ribosomes are present.
2. Genetic material is present.
3. No membrane bound organelles.
4. Cell wall is present.
Which of the following observations supports the student’s conclusion that the species is a prokaryote?
(1 point)
Observation 1
Observation 2
Observation 3
Observation 4
Observation 3
The observation that supports the student’s conclusion that the species is a prokaryote is Observation 3: "No membrane bound organelles."
Explanation: Prokaryotes are unicellular organisms that lack a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles. They have ribosomes (Observation 1) and genetic material (Observation 2) but do not have organelles like mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, or Golgi apparatus, which are all membrane-bound organelles found in eukaryotic cells. The presence of a cell wall (Observation 4) can be found in both prokaryotes and some eukaryotes, so it is not specific to prokaryotes and does not solely support the conclusion. Therefore, the observation of no membrane-bound organelles (Observation 3) is the key characteristic that supports the conclusion that the species is a prokaryote.