Which statement correctly defines bacteria?

Which statement correctly defines bacteria?

• A. Multicellular fungi
• B. Virus-like particles
• C. Single-celled prokaryotes lacking a nucleus
• D. Organisms with true nuclei and chlorophyll

Answer: (C)

Bacteria are microscopic living organisms that consist of a single cell and lack a nucleus, making them prokaryotes. This means they don’t have membrane-bound organelles, and their DNA typically sits in a loose region inside the cell rather than inside a defined nucleus. Because they’re unicellular prokaryotes, the statement “single-celled prokaryotes lacking a nucleus” is the accurate definition. The other descriptions point to organisms that aren’t bacteria: fungi can be multicellular and eukaryotic; viruses are not cells and don’t have a nucleus or cellular structure; organisms with true nuclei and chlorophyll describe plants or photosynthetic algae, which are eukaryotic.

Bacteria are microscopic living organisms that consist of a single cell and lack a nucleus, making them prokaryotes. This means they don’t have membrane-bound organelles, and their DNA typically sits in a loose region inside the cell rather than inside a defined nucleus. Because they’re unicellular prokaryotes, the statement “single-celled prokaryotes lacking a nucleus” is the accurate definition. The other descriptions point to organisms that aren’t bacteria: fungi can be multicellular and eukaryotic; viruses are not cells and don’t have a nucleus or cellular structure; organisms with true nuclei and chlorophyll describe plants or photosynthetic algae, which are eukaryotic.