Which one of the following statements is correct?

Bacteria are unicellular prokaryotic microorganisms that possess a cell membrane and cytoplasm [4]. The cytoplasm in bacteria contains ribosomes and genetic material (DNA) but lacks membrane-bound organelles like mitochondria [5]. In contrast, viruses are acellular, microscopic entities that do not possess a cellular structure [3]. They consist of genetic material (DNA or RNA) encased in a protein coat (capsid) and sometimes a host-derived envelope, but they lack their own cytoplasm and independent metabolic machinery [3]. While bacteria are living cells that perform molecular movements and binary fission, viruses do not show molecular movement until they infect a host cell [5]. Therefore, the statement that bacteria contain cytoplasm while viruses do not is correct. Options 2, 3, and 4 are incorrect because bacteria lack mitochondria, and viruses lack both mitochondria and a true independent cell membrane [5].

Sources

1. [1] Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 2: The Invisible Living World: Beyond Our Naked Eye > Snapshots > p. 24
2. [2] Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 2: The Invisible Living World: Beyond Our Naked Eye > Activity 2.3: Let us investigate > p. 12
3. [4] Science , class X (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 5: Life Processes > p. 79
4. [5] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK8477/
5. [3] Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 2: The Invisible Living World: Beyond Our Naked Eye > Ever heard of ... > p. 17