A researcher discovers a new prokaryote whose genome is ~8 Mb in size. Based on the figure shown, what type of organism is this likely to be?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The figure shows a genome size distribution of free-living bacteria, which typically range from 0.5-10 Mb. Obligate parasitic and symbiotic bacteria often have smaller genomes, while Archaea have larger genomes. Therefore, this prokaryote is most likely a free-living bacterium.

A Researcher Discovers a New Prokaryote Whose Genome Is ~8