The correct option is (a).
Explanation
Cells are biologically classified into prokaryotic and eukaryotic types based primarily on the organization of their nuclear material and the presence of internal compartmentalization (organelles).- Statement 1 is Correct: Prokaryotic cells (such as bacteria) lack a nuclear membrane. Their genetic material is not enclosed within a specific envelope but lies suspended in the cytoplasm.
- Statement 2 is Incorrect: Because there is no nuclear membrane, the nuclear region is not well-defined. This undefined region containing the genetic material (nucleic acids) is technically termed the nucleoid. The term "nucleus" is reserved for the well-defined, membrane-bound structure found in eukaryotic cells.
- Statement 3 is Incorrect: Prokaryotic cells do not possess membrane-bound cell organelles such as mitochondria, chloroplasts, the Golgi apparatus, or the endoplasmic reticulum. Metabolic functions in these cells occur in the cytoplasm or across the cell membrane (e.g., mesosomes).
Key Takeaway: The defining features of a prokaryotic cell are the absence of a true nucleus (nuclear membrane) and the absence of membrane-bound organelles. The genetic material resides in a region called the nucleoid.