Question:

Smallest bacterial genome is seen in ............

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Mycobacterium genitalium has the smallest known genome of a free-living organism.
Updated On: Mar 6, 2026
  • Methanococcus jannaschii
  • Mycobacterium genitalium
  • Haemophilus influenzae
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae
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The Correct Option is B

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Understanding bacterial genomes.
Mycobacterium genitalium has the smallest bacterial genome, with a genome size of around 580,000 base pairs, making it the smallest known genome of a free-living organism.
Step 2: Analyzing the options.
(A) Methanococcus jannaschii: Incorrect. This bacterium has a larger genome compared to Mycobacterium genitalium.
(B) Mycobacterium genitalium: Correct. It has the smallest bacterial genome known.
(C) Haemophilus influenzae: Incorrect. Haemophilus influenzae has a larger genome than Mycobacterium genitalium.
(D) Saccharomyces cerevisiae: Incorrect. Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a yeast, and its genome is much larger than Mycobacterium genitalium.
Step 3: Conclusion.
The correct answer is (B) Mycobacterium genitalium, as it has the smallest known bacterial genome.
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