Question

Bacteria have a simpler body plan when compared with human beings. Does it mean that human beings are more evolved than bacteria? Provide a suitable explanation.

Answer 1

Bacteria:

1. If the body’s complexity is a criterion, humans are considerably superior to germs.
2. Bacteria are unicellular and prokaryotic organisms. They have a simple structure.
3. They are grouped under Kingdom Monera.
4. Whereas human beings are highly evolved multicellular and eukaryotic organisms.
5. They are grouped under Kingdom Animalia.
6. Bacteria have cellular-level organization and humans have an organ-level organization.
7. On the other hand, if we compare both based on the habitat, then, bacteria have developed faster than humans in terms of survival abilities.
8. Humans can exist in any environment as long as they are protected artificially.
9. Humans are unable to survive in harsher environments, whereas bacteria can be found anywhere on the planet.
10. They can withstand even the harshest environments, such as hydrothermal vents and sulfur springs.
11. Therefore it is not completely right to compare humans and bacteria in terms of the level of evolution.
12. Although the cellular structure and presence of developed organ systems may make humans more evolved than most other species yet this would always be debatable.