Which of the following is a characteristic of prokaryotic cells?

Prokaryotic cells are primarily characterized by their simplicity compared to eukaryotic cells. One of the defining traits of prokaryotic cells is that they are often single-celled organisms. This characteristic allows prokaryotes, such as bacteria and archaea, to thrive in a wide variety of environments and perform essential ecological roles.

The lack of a membrane-bound nucleus is a fundamental feature distinguishing them from eukaryotic cells, which do possess a nucleus. In addition, most prokaryotes do not contain membrane-bound organelles, which are common in eukaryotic cells. As for complexity in chromatin, prokaryotic cells typically have a simpler structure, often with a single circular DNA molecule that is not associated with histone proteins in the same way eukaryotic DNA is organized.

Thus, the identification of single-celled organisms as a characteristic of prokaryotic cells highlights their fundamental biological classification and emphasizes their role in the diversity of life forms that include both singular and multicellular organisms.