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  1. Bacteria - Wikipedia

    Bacteria are ubiquitous, mostly free-living organisms often consisting of one biological cell. They constitute a large domain of prokaryotic microorganisms. Typically a few micrometres in …

  2. BACTERIUM Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

    Jan 9, 2015 · Viruses differ from bacteria in several important ways. Viruses are not living organisms; they can only replicate in the cells of a host. By contrast, bacteria are single-celled …

  3. Bacteria: Definition, Types, Benefits, Risks & Examples

    For example, “ Clostridium botulinum ” is the scientific name for the bacterium that causes botulism. Within a species, scientists may discover different types, or strains, of a bacterium.

  4. Bacteria | Cell, Evolution, & Classification | Britannica

    5 days ago · Each bacterium grows and divides independently of any other bacterium, although aggregates of bacteria, sometimes containing members of different species, are frequently found.

  5. What Are Bacteria? Structure, Function, and Importance in Life

    Apr 18, 2025 · What Exactly is a Bacterium? At the most basic level, a bacterium is a single-celled organism without a nucleus. This classifies it as a prokaryote, meaning its genetic material …

  6. Bacteria: Definition & Characteristics With Examples & Diagram

    Aug 8, 2025 · In 1838, the German naturalist Christian Gottfried Ehrenberg called them ‘bacteria’, from the Greek word ‘baktḗria’, meaning ‘little stick’. Later, Robert Koch’s research, famously …

  7. Bacteria - National Geographic Society

    Oct 19, 2023 · (singular: bacterium) single-celled organisms found in every ecosystem on Earth.