Prokaryotic cells are single-celled microorganisms that lack a true nucleus and membrane-bound organelles. They are the earliest known cells on Earth and include bacteria and archaea. Here are some key characteristics of prokaryotic cells:

• Structure: Prokaryotic cells are generally smaller and simpler in structure than eukaryotic cells. They may be spherical, rod-shaped, or spiral. A prokaryotic cell does not have a nuclear membrane, but the genetic material is present in a region in the cytoplasm known as the nucleoid. They have a plasma membrane that separates the cell from the surrounding environment, but they have no internal membrane-bound organelles within their cytoplasm.

• Components: Prokaryotic cells have four main components: plasma membrane, cytoplasm, ribosomes, and genetic material. They may also have additional structures such as a capsule, pili, flagella, and plasmids.

• Function: Prokaryotic cells carry out all of their metabolic processes within the cytosol of the cell. They reproduce through binary fission, a process that simply splits duplicated DNA into separate cells. Prokaryotic cells are unicellular organisms that are found everywhere on Earth from soil to the human body.

In summary, prokaryotic cells are single-celled microorganisms that lack a true nucleus and membrane-bound organelles. They are generally smaller and simpler in structure than eukaryotic cells and carry out all of their metabolic processes within the cytosol of the cell.