Which structure do prokaryotes possess that is also found in eukaryotes?

Both prokaryotes and eukaryotes utilize ribosomes for protein synthesis, and while the nucleolus itself is not present in prokaryotes, it is important to clarify what these structures represent in the context of the cellular environment.

In eukaryotic cells, the nucleolus is a sub-structure within the nucleus responsible for ribosomal RNA (rRNA) synthesis and ribosome assembly. While prokaryotes do not have a nucleolus per se, they do have similar functions occurring within their nucleoid region where ribosomal components are synthesized, albeit without the compartmentalization seen in eukaryotes.

Understanding the fundamental difference in cellular organization is key here; prokaryotic cells, being simpler and lacking membrane-bound organelles, perform processes like ribosome assembly in a more diffuse manner compared to the structured environment of eukaryotes.

The comparison underscores that while prokaryotic cells lack complex structures like the nucleus or nucleolus, the function related to protein synthesis and ribosome production connects both types of cells through their reliance on ribosomal components, even if the terminology and structures differ notably.