Which description best characterizes a eukaryotic cell?

• A. Eukaryotic
• B. Prokaryotic
• C. Autotroph
• D. Heterotroph

Answer: (A)

Eukaryotic cells are defined by having a true nucleus enclosed by a membrane and by containing membrane-bound organelles. This internal organization keeps DNA separated from the rest of the cell and allows complex processes to occur in specialized compartments, supporting larger cell size and greater diversity of functions. Prokaryotic cells, in contrast, lack a true nucleus and most membrane-bound organelles, making them structurally simpler. Autotroph and heterotroph describe how a cell obtains energy or carbon, not its cellular organization, and many eukaryotes can be either autotrophs (like plants) or heterotrophs (like animals). So the description that best fits a eukaryotic cell emphasizes the presence of a nucleus and compartmentalization, distinguishing it from prokaryotic cells.