In cell biology, membrane bound organelles such as mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus are not found in the cells of which type of organism?

Introduction / Context:
Cells are broadly classified into prokaryotic and eukaryotic types. One of the fundamental differences between them is the presence or absence of membrane bound organelles. Understanding this distinction helps students classify organisms and understand cellular complexity. This question asks in which type of cells membrane bound organelles are not found.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Membrane bound organelles include structures like mitochondria, chloroplasts, Golgi apparatus, endoplasmic reticulum, and lysosomes.
• Eukaryotes include animals, plants, fungi, and protists.
• Prokaryotes include bacteria and archaea.
• We assume standard textbook definitions of cell types.

Concept / Approach:
Eukaryotic cells are characterized by a true nucleus enclosed by a nuclear membrane and by cytoplasmic organelles bounded by membranes. Prokaryotic cells lack a true nucleus and lack these internal membrane bound organelles. Instead, their DNA lies in a nucleoid region, and metabolic functions occur in the cytoplasm and at the plasma membrane. Therefore, identifying the group that lacks membrane bound organelles directs us to prokaryotes.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that eukaryotic cells possess a nucleus and multiple membrane bound organelles that compartmentalize different functions. Step 2: Recall that prokaryotic cells are structurally simpler and lack these internal membrane bound organelles. Step 3: Examine option A, eukaryotes. This is incorrect because eukaryotes clearly have organelles. Step 4: Examine option B, prokaryotes. This fits the known description of prokaryotic cells lacking membrane bound organelles. Step 5: Option C claims both types lack such organelles, which contradicts the definition of eukaryotes. Step 6: Option D mentions a fictional group and option E is irrelevant to the basic structural classification. Step 7: Conclude that prokaryotic cells do not contain membrane bound organelles.

Verification / Alternative check:
Looking at diagrams of typical animal or plant cells shows numerous organelles such as mitochondria, rough and smooth endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi bodies, lysosomes, and in plants, chloroplasts. In contrast, diagrams of bacterial cells show a plasma membrane, cytoplasm, ribosomes, nucleoid, plasmids, and sometimes cell wall and flagella, but no internal membrane bound organelles. Ribosomes are present in both cell types but are not bounded by membranes and therefore do not count as membrane bound organelles.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A, eukaryotes, is wrong because eukaryotic cells by definition have membrane bound organelles. Option C, both eukaryotes and prokaryotes, is incorrect because it ignores the structural differences between the two. Option D introduces a term that is not a recognized biological classification. Option E, only in multicellular animals, is incorrect because single celled eukaryotes such as many protists also have membrane bound organelles.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes think that the absence of organelles is only a feature of simple bacteria and may forget that this is a defining feature of all prokaryotes. Another common error is confusing ribosomes, which are not membrane bound, with organelles like mitochondria. Remember that being membrane bound is the key concept in this question.

Final Answer:
Membrane bound organelles are not found in cells of Prokaryotes.