Mycoplasma: Cell Wall-Free Prokaryotes — NEET Biology
✅ Asked in NEET 2017Which among the following are the smallest living cells, known without a definite cell wall, pathogenic to plants as well as animals and can survive without oxygen? NEET 2017
Which among the following are the smallest living cells, known without a definite cell wall, pathogenic to plants as well as animals and can survive without oxygen? NEET 2017
Answer & NCERT explanation
Correct answer: B — Mycoplasma
Mycoplasma are the smallest living cells lacking a definite cell wall, making them pleomorphic. They are pathogenic to both plants and animals and can survive in anaerobic conditions. Pseudomonas has cell wall, Nostoc is cyanobacteria with cell wall, and Bacillus also has peptidoglycan cell wall.
Read more NCERT concept on the PYQ
The Mycoplasma are organisms that completely lack a cell wall. They are the smallest living cells known and can survive without oxygen. Many mycoplasma are pathogenic in animals and plants.
Mycoplasma are unique prokaryotes that completely lack a cell wall, making them the smallest living cells known. They are also anaerobic (can survive without oxygen), which sets them apart from most bacteria. Students commonly confuse Mycoplasma with other prokaryotes and forget that lack of a cell wall is their defining feature—this makes them susceptible to osmotic stress but allows them unusual flexibility. To answer correctly, remember: Mycoplasma = no cell wall + smallest size + pathogenic to animals/plants. NTA tests this because it challenges the standard
What does NCERT say about Mycoplasma are organisms that?
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