Microorganisms are essential components of the biological world and play diverse roles in ecosystems, health, industry, and environment. Among these microbes, bacteria and fungi are the most studied groups due to their importance in medicine, decomposition, biotechnology, and food processing.
Although both are microscopic living organisms, they differ vastly in their cell structure, mode of nutrition, reproduction, and habitat. Understanding the difference between bacteria and fungi is crucial for NEET Biology as these microorganisms form the foundation of microbiology and pathogenesis studies.
This guide explains their general characteristics, similarities, and key differences in a well-structured and easy-to-understand manner.
Microorganisms (microbes) are microscopic living organisms that are too small to be seen with the naked eye. They include bacteria, fungi, viruses, protozoa, algae, and archaea.
Microbes can be:
Among these, bacteria and fungi are particularly important due to their wide biological and ecological roles.
Bacteria are unicellular, prokaryotic microorganisms belonging to the kingdom Monera. They have a simple cellular structure lacking membrane-bound organelles and a true nucleus.
Key Characteristics of Bacteria
Shapes of Bacteria
Bacteria exist in various shapes:
Roles of Bacteria
Fungi are eukaryotic organisms belonging to the kingdom Fungi. Unlike bacteria, fungi have complex cellular structures with membrane-bound organelles.
Key Characteristics of Fungi
Types of Fungi
Roles of Fungi
The following table highlights the major differences between bacteria and fungi:
Despite their differences, bacteria and fungi share certain similarities:
(Session 2026 - 27)