Question

a student wonders whether removing the nucleus from a cell would result in a new prokaryotic cell. why would this procedure fail to produce a prokaryotic cell? the cell would lack genetic information. the cell would lack the structure that is needed to produce energy. the cell would lack the structure that is needed to protect the cells organelles. the cell would lack control over materials that move into and out of the cell.

Explanation:

Prokaryotic cells have genetic material in the form of circular DNA in the cytoplasm, not in a nucleus - like eukaryotic cells. Removing the nucleus from a eukaryotic cell just leaves a cell without a nucleus but it doesn't give it the other characteristics of a prokaryotic cell. Genetic information is still present in the cell's remaining DNA. Energy - producing structures like mitochondria (in eukaryotes) are still there and not related to the nucleus - removal making a prokaryote. Protection of organelles is mainly due to the cell membrane and cytoskeleton. The cell membrane controls materials moving in and out. But the key is that a prokaryotic cell has a different genetic organization and other features that are not achieved by just removing the nucleus. A cell without a nucleus is just an enucleated eukaryotic cell, not a prokaryote.

Answer:

The cell would lack genetic information. (This is incorrect as the cell still has DNA, but it is the best - wrong answer among the options as the others are even more off - base. A prokaryotic cell has a different genetic setup and removing the nucleus doesn't give the cell prokaryotic genetic features.)