True or False: Transcription and translation can occur simultaneously in prokaryotes.

Transcription and translation can indeed occur simultaneously in prokaryotes due to the lack of a defined nucleus. In prokaryotic cells, the processes of transcription (the synthesis of RNA from DNA) and translation (the synthesis of proteins from RNA) can happen in the same cellular compartment and at the same time. As soon as an mRNA strand is being synthesized by RNA polymerase, ribosomes can begin translating that mRNA into a protein. This is often described as "coupled transcription and translation."

In contrast, eukaryotic cells have compartmentalized processes where transcription occurs in the nucleus, and translation happens in the cytoplasm. This physical separation prevents the simultaneous occurrence of these two processes in eukaryotes, which is why the other choices are incorrect. The mechanisms and timing of gene expression differ significantly between prokaryotes and eukaryotes, further emphasizing the unique capability of prokaryotes to couple transcription and translation.