What is the difference between a virus and a bacteria?

Answer 1

A bacteria is a self-sufficient organism, while a virus is not. That is, a bacteria can do all of the life processes, such as respiration, excreting, reproducing, moving, etc. A virus is not able to do any of these things. It is basically just a genome within a protein core. The virus then injects its genome into the host cell, and uses the host's replication machinery to reproduce. Then it goes on and infects other cells.

Answer 2

A bacteria is a prokaryote which means it has no nucleus. A bacterial DNA is strung out in the cytoplasm of the cell. A bacteria is a living organism and can live and reproduce without a host. A virus is NOT a living entity. A virus is in its most basic form a coat of protein called the Caspid, and inside the caspid is a strand of either DNA or RNA depending on the virus. A virus in order to exist needs a host to exist and to reproduce. A virus will take over a cells DNA and use the cell to make more virus, and often will kill the cell in the process. There are also Viruses that will infect a bacteria these are called bacteriophage's. When a virus attacks a bacteria the virus can actually make a non-pathogenic bacteria into a pathogenic or a disease causing bacteria. The bacteria of Whopping cough works this way. You can see many bacteria under a high-powered microscope as they are large. A virus is so small that you can see some only under an electron microscope.

Answer 3

Just to clarify a few points:

Neither viruses or bacteria have nuclei (bacteria are prokaryotes, which have no membrane bound cellular organelles). You CAN kill both viruses and bacteria, however as has already been stated, you cannot kill viruses with antibiotics. There are anti-viral drugs on the market, and our own immune systems kill virus all the time. The difference is, most of the time the virus is found INSIDE one of our cells; therefore in order to kill it, our immune systems have to kill the infected cell as well.

As for the rest, its already been nicely summed up by the previous answers.

Answer 4

There are two types of germs that cause most infections in the United States - viruses and bacteria.


Virus - viral infections include

All colds and flu
Most coughs
Most sore throats
Usually involve several parts of the body

Antibiotics CANNOT KILL viruses
A virus is an infectious agent, smaller than bacteria, which requires the cells of a living organism to grow or reproduce. Viruses cause a variety of infectious diseases, among them the common cold, diarrhea, chicken pox, yellow fever, most childhood respiratory diseases and the majority of infections of the upper respiratory passages.

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Bacteria - bacterial infections include:

Strep throat
Urinary tract infections
Most ear infections
Some sinus infections
Are usually localized at a single point in the body

Antibiotics CAN KILL bacteria IF the bacteria are not resistant
Bacteria are minute life forms which can cause infections in humans. Bacteria have the ability to adapt quickly to their surroundings. Their goal is to survive and multiply. This ability to adapt to their surroundings is the basis of antibiotic resistance. Surviving contact with that antibiotic allows the bacteria to resist it in future contacts.

Answer 5

I worked for a Doctor a few years back and he always told people that if they had a cold or fever blisters these are virus. That's why if you have a bad cold taking antibiotics will do you no good. virus just need to run its course. Bacteria are things that can spread to other parts of your body . Things like infected sores or Pneumonia if not treated can spread to other areas and can led to real problems is not treated with proper care from a physician and proper medications or other advice from you heath-care provider.

Answer 6

Viruse is a ultramicroscopic organism and bacteria is a microscopic organism.Virus has no nucleus but bacteria has an eukaryotic nucleus.There is no cytoplasmic organelles in virus but bacteria has different kinds of cytoplasmic organelles.

Answer 7

One difference is ...a virus merely reproduces while a bacteria has a waste product....which may be toxic

Answer 8

viruses need a host to live, and bacteria can live by themselves. also bacteria can be killed, and viruses can't be killed, but you can become immune to them. AIDS is a virus, and that's why it can't be cured. you're full of bacteria, but it's not all bad. viruses cling onto hosts and suck the life out of them and then reproduce.

Answer 9

Virus needs a Base.
Bacteria is baseless and can be anywhere