The diameter of a cell is about 5 times the length of a bacterium. Selected basis: an example for Bacterium; an example for Cell; approximate values.
Both rulers start at the same zero and share one linear scale. Artwork keeps its original proportions.
2 µm - Length; example.
A bacterium is a single-celled microorganism without a membrane-bound nucleus. Different bacterial species have very different forms and sizes.
A 2 µm long illustrative bacterium. Species and growth conditions vary.
Defined examples — our methodology10 µm - Diameter; example.
A cell is the basic structural unit of living organisms. Cells vary enormously in shape, function and size.
A 10 µm diameter teaching example, not a universal cell size.
Defined examples — our methodology
There’s always another scale
MicroscopicBacterium2 µmA bacterium is a single-celled microorganism without a membrane-bound nucleus.
MicroscopicCell10 µmA cell is the basic structural unit of living organisms.
MicroscopicRed blood cell7.5 µmA red blood cell is a specialised blood cell that transports oxygen using haemoglobin.
MicroscopicDNA double helix2 nmDNA is the molecule that stores hereditary information in living organisms.
Living thingsHoneybee1.5 cmA honeybee is a social insect that lives in a colony and gathers nectar and pollen from flowers.Side by side
Illustrative artwork · not to scale
Illustrative artwork · not to scale
Illustrative artwork · not to scale
Illustrative artwork · not to scaleGot a good eye for scale?