The smallest organism, capable of autonomous growth and reproduction, is

Correct answer: (c) Mycoplasma

Explanation

Mycoplasma is the smallest organism capable of autonomous (independent) growth and reproduction, with the smallest genome among self-replicating cells.

It lacks a cell wall, giving it a flexible, variable shape, and shows characteristic fried-egg-shaped colonies on agar.

Viruses and bacteriophages cannot reproduce on their own – they need a host cell, so they fail the "autonomous" criterion.