Which of the following statements best describes bacteria?

• A. They are acellular infectious agents composed only of proteins and nucleic acids.
• B. They are unicellular eukaryotic organisms that reproduce only by budding.
• C. They are unicellular prokaryotic organisms lacking a membrane-bound nucleus.
• D. They are multicellular eukaryotic organisms with a membrane-bound nucleus.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the basic classification of bacteria. Bacteria are microorganisms that belong to the domain Bacteria, which are characterized by their cellular structure.
2. Step 2: Recall the difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Prokaryotic cells lack a membrane-bound nucleus and other membrane-bound organelles, while eukaryotic cells have these features.
3. Step 3: Analyze the options given. The first option describes acellular infectious agents composed only of proteins and nucleic acids, which corresponds to viruses, not bacteria.
4. Step 4: The second option describes unicellular eukaryotic organisms reproducing by budding, which fits some fungi or protists, but not bacteria.
5. Step 5: The third option correctly states that bacteria are unicellular prokaryotic organisms lacking a membrane-bound nucleus, which aligns with the scientific definition of bacteria.