Answer:
The question lacks options, the options are:
A) Prokaryotic mRNA needs to be extensively processed before it can be translated.
B) Ribosomes, which translate the proteins, are found only outside the nucleus in prokaryotes.
C) Eukaryotic mRNA can be processed before ribosomes are moved into the nucleus to translate the protein.
D) Translation in eukaryotes cannot occur until the RNA leaves the nucleus, whereas in prokaryotes both transcription and translation occur in the cytoplasm.
The correct answer is D
Explanation:
The manner of gene expression in prokaryotes and eukaryotes is somewhat similar but the distinguishing factor is where it occurs. Gene expression occurs in two stages: Transcription, where DNA is copied into an mRNA and Translation, where the mRNA is used to synthesize amino acid sequence that forms proteins.
An eukaryotic cell possesses a membrane bound nucleus, hence, its transcription process occurs in the nucleus where the DNA is located, the matured mRNA that results from the process is then transported out of the nucleus to the ribosomes in the cytoplasm for translation to occur. However, prokaryotic cells lacks a nucleus, their DNA (genetic material) is found naked in the nucleid region of their cytoplasm, hence, both transcription and translation of their genetic material (DNA) occurs in the cytoplasm.
Since both processes occur in the cytoplasm of prokaryotes, it is possible to translate a mRNA while simultaneously transcribing the gene. As one part of the gene is transcribed into mRNA, it attaches to the ribosome and gets translated into amino acid. On the other hand, in eukaryotes, it cannot occur because the full transcript (mRNA) has to leave the nucleus first before getting translated.
