Prokaryotic cells are characterized by which feature?

Prokaryotic cells are fundamentally characterized by their method of reproduction, which is binary fission. This process involves the replication of the cell's DNA and division into two identical daughter cells. Unlike eukaryotic cells, which undergo mitosis or meiosis for cell division and have a more complex structure, prokaryotes have a simpler arrangement lacking membrane-bound organelles.

Additionally, prokaryotic cells do not possess a nucleus; their genetic material is typically found in a region called the nucleoid. The feature of compartmentalization is also typically associated with eukaryotic cells, as they have distinct organelles that compartmentalize various biochemical processes, which is not the case for prokaryotic cells. Therefore, binary fission is distinctly related to the reproductive and cellular characteristics of prokaryotes.