Difference Between Bacteria And Fungi

Bacteria and fungi are two different groups of microorganisms that play crucial roles in various ecosystems. While both bacteria and fungi are microscopic and can have significant effects on their environment, both bacteria and fungi are different in terms of cellular structure, life cycles, and ecological roles.

Bacteria is a single-celled organism. It can survive both inside and outside the human body or organisms. There are millions of bacteria present everywhere including in the human body. Some bacteria are harmful but some are necessary for the functioning of the body. Fungus or Fungi is a eukaryotic organism. Molds, yeast, and Mushrooms come under this category. These are classified separately as a kingdom. The main differentiator that fungi have is the presence of cell walls. Fungus takes in nutrition by absorbing simple compounds around them. They do not produce their food.

Difference Between Bacteria And Fungi

Characterization	Bacteria	Fungi
Nature	Bacteria can either be producers or decomposers.	Most Fungi are decomposers.
Cell Wall	In Bacteria cell wall is made up of peptidoglycan	In Fungi, the cell wall is made up of chitin.
Nucleus	In Bacteria Nucleus is not present	In Fungi Nucleus is present
Growth Environment	Neutral pH is suitable for the growth of Bacteria	Slightly acidic soil is suitable for the growth of fungi.
Structure	Present in three shapes: Round, Spiral, and Rod	They are present in thread-like structures in various shapes.
Sterols	Sterols are present only in mycoplasma	Sterols are present
Nutrition	Heterotrophs	Depend on dead matter.
Reproduction	They reproduce through Binary fission (asexual)	They can be either sexual or asexual
Energy	Receive energy through proteins and sugars	Absorb nutrients from dead matter.
Example	Escherichia coli	Brewer’s yeast

Difference between Bacteria and Fungi Diagram

What is Bacteria?

Bacteria are unicellular microorganisms present nearly everywhere on Earth. Bacteria are one of the three domains of life, alongside Archaea and Eukarya. Bacteria are diverse and can be present in various shapes, sizes, and environments. They can be found in soil, water, air, and even inside the bodies of plants and animals. They have a simple cellular structure without a nucleus or membrane-bound organelles. Bacteria’s genetic material, which is typically a circular DNA molecule, is located in the cytoplasm. 

What is Fungi?

Fungi are a group of eukaryotic organisms that include mushrooms, yeasts, molds, and other related organisms. Fungi form a separate kingdom called Fungi, they are different from plants, animals, and bacteria. Fungi are incredibly diverse, with an estimated 2.2 to 3.8 million species worldwide, although only a fraction of them have been formally described. Unlike bacteria, fungi are multicellular organisms, although some fungi exist as single-celled organisms called yeasts.

FAQs on Bacteria and Fungi

Q1: What are Bacteria?

Answer: 

Bacteria is a free living organism mostly consisting of a single cell. Bacteria is a single celled organism. It can survive both inside and outside the human body or organisms. 

Q2: What are Fungi?

Answer: 

Fungus or Fungi is a eukaryotic organism. Molds, Yeast and Mushrooms come under this category. These are classified separately as a kingdom. The main differentiator that fungi have is the presence of cell walls. 

Q3: What is the mode of nutrition of Fungi and Bacteria?

Answer: 

The nutrition mode of bacteria is Heterotrophs and fungi Depend on dead matter.

Q4: How are fungi different from plants?

Answer: 

Plants are producers while fungi are decomposers.