Difference between Bacteria and Protists

Bacteria and protists are unicellular organisms. The difference lies in the type of cells they have. Bacteria are placed in the kingdom Monera and have a prokaryotic cell, whereas protists are placed in the kingdom Protista and have a eukaryotic cell.

Difference between Bacteria and Protists

The table below shows the main differences between Bacteria and Protists.

What are Bacteria?

Bacteria are the most abundant microorganisms and are found almost everywhere. Bacteria are unicellular and prokaryotic. They have been placed in the kingdom ‘Monera’. Bacteria are classified based on their shapes as coccus, bacillus, vibrio or spirillum. Bacteria do not have a well-defined nucleus and are devoid of membrane-bound organelles. They are autotrophic as well as heterotrophic. Autotrophic bacteria may be photosynthetic or chemosynthetic. Heterotrophs are parasites or decomposers. According to earlier classification, bacteria are broadly classified as:

• Archaebacteria – They live in extreme environments, such as at extreme temperature and pH, e.g. hot springs, marshy areas and salty areas. Examples are methanogens, thermoacidophiles and halophiles. Due to marked differences from bacterial cells, archaebacteria are placed in a separate domain ‘Archaea’, in the three-domain system of classification.
• Eubacteria – They are true bacteria. They have a cell wall and may also contain flagella. They may be aerobic or anaerobic. Some examples of eubacteria are cyanobacteria, purple sulphur bacteria, Rhizobium, Salmonella, Clostridium, Acetobacter, Lactobacillus, etc.

Bacteria reproduce by binary fission. They also show DNA transfer by conjugation, transformation and transduction, i.e. primitive forms of sexual reproduction. They play an important role in nutrient recycling, photosynthesis, nitrogen fixation, antibiotics and organic acid production. They also cause various diseases in plants and animals, such as typhoid, tetanus, cholera, citrus canker, etc.

What are Protists?

The unicellular eukaryotic organisms are called protists. They are grouped in a separate kingdom named ‘Protista’ according to Whittaker’s Five Kingdom Classification. They are primarily aquatic and form a link between plants, animals and fungi. They are autotrophic, heterotrophic or both. They reproduce asexually as well as sexually. Some of the common examples of protists are as follows:

• Chrysophytes – They are photosynthetic plankton. E.g. Diatoms and golden algae.
• Dinoflagellates – They are mostly marine and photosynthetic. They show bioluminescence. Rapid multiplication of some species causes red tide, e.g. Gonyaulax.
• Euglenoids – They are mixotrophic, i.e., they show autotrophic as well as heterotrophic modes of nutrition. E.g. Euglena.
• Slime moulds – They are saprophytes. They form aggregates called plasmodium. They are like fungi.
• Protozoans – They are heterotrophs, live as parasites or predators. E.g. Amoeba, Paramoecium, Plasmodium, Trypanosoma, etc.

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Also Check:

• Autotrophic Bacteria
• Heterotrophic Bacteria
• Shapes Of Bacteria
• Protozoa
• Plankton
• Dinoflagellates
• Euglena Structure And Classification
• Flashcards Of Biology For NEET Biological Classification

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