What is the Difference Between Bacteria and Yeast?

Bacteria and yeast are both types of microorganisms, but they have several differences in terms of their cellular structure, reproduction, size, and kingdom classification. Here are the main differences between bacteria and yeast:

1. Cellular Structure: Bacteria are prokaryotic organisms, while yeast are eukaryotic organisms. This means that yeast cells contain a nucleus, whereas bacteria cells do not.
2. Reproduction: Yeast can reproduce sexually, while bacteria cannot.
3. Size: Yeast cells are generally larger than most bacterial cells. Yeast cells are usually around 3-5 microns in diameter, while bacteria are usually no more than 1 micron wide.
4. Kingdom Classification: Yeast belong to the Fungi kingdom, while bacteria belong to the Bacteria kingdom.
5. Cell Wall Composition: The cell walls of bacteria and yeast have different compositions. Bacterial cell walls are made of peptidoglycan, while yeast cell walls contain chitin.
6. Morphology: Bacteria can have various shapes, such as spherical, rod-shaped, or spiral-shaped. In contrast, yeast cells are typically larger and can be seen as small, round cells.

Comparative Table: Bacteria vs Yeast

Bacteria and yeast are both unicellular microorganisms, but they have some key differences in their structure and classification. Here is a table summarizing the differences between bacteria and yeast:

Bacteria are prokaryotic cells, which means they have a simpler cell structure compared to eukaryotic cells, such as yeast. Bacteria come in various shapes, including coccus (spherical), bacillus (rod-shaped), and spiral. On the other hand, yeast cells are typically spherical and have a diameter of 3-5 µm. Bacteria divide by a process called binary fission, whereas yeast reproduce asexually through a process called budding.