• Prokaryotic cells have a?less complex ultrastructure?than eukaryotic cells
  • Eukaryote cells are divided up into membrane-bound compartments called organelles
  • Transcription and translation happen in different compartments because ribosomes are separated from the nucleus
• The lack of a nucleus is a?defining cellular feature of prokaryotes, allowing transcription and translation to take place in the?same compartment
• Translation can occur?immediately after transcription?due to the absence of a nuclear membrane
  • Both processes?proceed simultaneously?and likely in a coupled fashion
  • Translation starts even?before the mRNA has finished being transcribed?from the DNA

Transcription and translation occur simultaneously in prokaryotes due to the absence of a nuclear membrane. Ribosomes start translating the mRNA whilst it is still being synthesised.