Which statement best describes the difference between eukaryotes and prokaryotes in terms of genetic structure?

The choice indicating that prokaryotes do not have introns or exons in their genetic structure accurately captures a fundamental difference between eukaryotes and prokaryotes. Prokaryotic organisms, such as bacteria, have simpler genetic structures that generally consist of a single circular DNA molecule without the complex arrangements found in eukaryotic DNA. In prokaryotes, genes are often contiguous, leading to their expression as a single unit, typically without the interrupting sequences known as introns.

In contrast, eukaryotic organisms, which include animals, plants, and fungi, exhibit a more complex genetic structure where genes can contain both introns and exons. Exons are the coding sequences that are expressed, while introns are non-coding sequences that are spliced out during the process of RNA maturation after transcription. This distinction highlights the complexity of gene regulation and expression in eukaryotes compared to the relative simplicity of prokaryotes. Thus, the correct statement emphasizes a key element of genetic architecture that differentiates these two domains of life.