WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A VIRUS AND BACTERIA ?

VIRUS STRUCTURE

BACTERIA STRUCTURE

Bacteria and viruses both cause harm to the human system and have in time become rather cumbersome to the health of the entire human race. However, bacteria and viruses are different in many ways.

     For instance, a virus is considered as the smallest and simplest life form known and it also said to be 10 to 100 times smaller than bacteria. Also, a bacterium contains ribosomes while viruses do not contain any ribosomes.

     The structures of the two are also very different. A bacterium has DNA and RNA floating freely in cytoplasm while it also has a cell wall and a cell membrane. A virus on the other hand, has DNA or RNA enclosed inside a coat of protein. However, the biggest difference between the two would be the fact that viruses require a living host such as a plant or animal to multiply, whereas most bacteria can grow on non - living surfaces.

     Certain bacteria are beneficial such as the kinds of bacteria that are needed for the recycling circle of the environment and yet, viruses are not known to be beneficial. Another difference between the two would be the fact that while bacteria are intercellular organisms which live in between cells, viruses are intracellular organisms that infiltrate the host cell and live inside the cell.

     The manners in which the two organisms reproduce are also very different. Bacteria reproduce by way of “ fission ” which is a form of asexual reproduction whereas viruses are known to invade a host cell and taking over the cell causing it to make copies of the viral DNA or RNA. The virus then destroys the host cell releasing new viruses.

     Bacteria are treated with antibiotics while viruses are treated with vaccines and antiviral treatment which prevent the spread of the virus or slow down the reproduction rate of the microorganism.