Where is DNA located in prokaryotic cells?

In prokaryotic cells, DNA is located in the nucleoid. This region is not surrounded by a membrane, which distinguishes it from eukaryotic cells where the nucleus, a membrane-bound organelle, houses the DNA. The nucleoid is a concentration of genetic material in the cell's cytoplasm, where the circular DNA molecule (often a single chromosome) is found. This arrangement allows prokaryotes to efficiently manage their genetic information without the complexity of compartmentalization seen in eukaryotic cells.

While the cytoplasm is the fluid where various cellular processes occur and DNA does interact with other components in this space, it is the nucleoid that specifically indicates the location of the DNA. The nucleus is relevant to eukaryotic cells, and while the cell membrane does play a critical role in protecting the cell and regulating materials entering and leaving, it doesn’t contain DNA.