The simplest and smallest life form known is
a virus
a bacterium
an archaean

the principles and empirical processes of discovery and demonstration considered characteristic of or necessary for scientific investigation, generally involving the observation of phenomena, the formulation of a hypothesis concerning the phenomena, experimentation to test the hypothesis, and development of a conclusion that confirms, rejects, or modifies the hypothesis.

answer/// the nucleoid region contains dna; ///

hybridization actually occurs frequently in nature. evolution is derived from the process of hybridization that creates things with different traits. this leads to the species changing and evolution occurring. hope this : )