Which of the following could be a precursor for a bacterial colony?

• A. A eukaryotic nucleus
• B. A viral particle
• C. A single bacterial cell
• D. A fungal spore

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the concept of a precursor in microbiology: a precursor is an initial entity that can give rise to a larger structure or population, such as a bacterial colony.
2. Recall that a bacterial colony originates from the growth and division of a single bacterial cell, which multiplies to form millions of cells visible as a colony.
3. Evaluate each option: a eukaryotic nucleus cannot form a bacterial colony because it is part of a eukaryotic cell, not a whole bacterial cell.
4. A viral particle cannot form a bacterial colony because viruses require host cells to replicate and do not grow into colonies themselves.
5. A fungal spore can develop into a fungal colony but not a bacterial colony, so the correct precursor for a bacterial colony is a single bacterial cell.