What the difference between a bacteria and a virus?

Answer 1

Bacteria and viruses vary greatly in size- bacteria can be anywhere from 10 to 100 times larger than viruses. Basically, bacteria contain everything for them to reproduce- genetic information in the form of DNA or RNA, ribosomes (necessary for translating the genetic information into enzymes required for its survival), and plasmids which convey extra genetic information for a variety of purposes (bacterial "sex" for example- bacteria normally reproduce asexually, but with certain plasmids genetic material can be passed between bacteria). Viruses, on the other hand, generally only have genetic information, have no way of replicating that information and also lack the machinery needed for making its own proteins. They need to infiltrate living cells to be able to reproduce. You may have seen pictures of viruses looking like moon-landers- the legs attach onto the surface of the cell, then the genetic material contained inside the head of the virus is injected into the cell. This genetic material can either use the cell's machinery to produce its own proteins and/or virus bits, or it can be integrated into the cell's DNA/RNA and then translated later. When enough "baby" viruses are produced the cell bursts, releasing the new viral particles.

They also differ in structure- bacteria have cell walls (in addition to their cell membranes), which contain peptidoglycan polymers and provide structural definition. Another answer mentioned the fact that antibiotics can kill bacteria but not viruses. This is because many antibiotics interfere with the production of peptidoglycans for cell walls. Viruses contain a simple protein coat on the outside. They lack peptidoglycans, therefore are not affected by antibiotics.

Answer 2

How is this a Cleveland-related question?

Dictionary
bacteria |bakˈti(ə)rēə| plural form of bacterium . USAGE See usage at bacterium . bacterium |bakˈti(ə)rēəm| noun ( pl. -teria |-ˈti(ə)rēə|) a member of a large group of unicellular microorganisms that have cell walls but lack organelles and an organized nucleus, including some that can cause disease. Bacteria are widely distributed in soil, water, and air, and on or in the tissues of plants and animals. Formerly included in the plant kingdom, they are now classified separately (as prokaryotes). They play a vital role in global ecology, as the chemical changes they bring about include those of organic decay and nitrogen fixation. Much modern biochemical knowledge has been gained from the study of bacteria because they grow easily and reproduce rapidly in laboratory cultures.DERIVATIVES bacterial |-ˈti(ə)rēəl| adjective ORIGIN mid 19th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek baktērion, diminutive of baktēria ‘staff, cane’ (because the first ones to be discovered were rod-shaped). Compare with bacillus .USAGE Bacteria is the plural form (derived from Latin) of bacterium. Like any other plural, it should be used with the plural form of the verb:: the bacteria causing salmonella are killed by thorough cooking, not | the bacteria. . . is killed . . . . However, the unfamiliarity of the form means that bacteria is often mistakenly treated as a singular form, as in the example above.

Thesaurus
bacteria plural noun a different strain of bacteria microorganisms, microbes, germs, bacilli, pathogens, prokaryotes; informal bugs.

virus |ˈvÄ«rəs| noun an infective agent that typically consists of a nucleic acid molecule in a protein coat, is too small to be seen by light microscopy, and is able to multiply only within the living cells of a host : [as adj. ] a virus infection. • informal an infection or disease caused by such an agent. • figurative a harmful or corrupting influence : the virus of cruelty that is latent in all human beings. • (also computer virus) a piece of code that is capable of copying itself and typically has a detrimental effect, such as corrupting the system or destroying data. ORIGIN late Middle English (denoting the venom of a snake): from Latin, literally ‘slimy liquid, poison.’ The earlier medical sense, superseded by the current use as a result of improved scientific understanding, was [a substance produced in the body as the result of disease, esp. one that is capable of infecting others with the same disease.]

Thesaurus
virus noun 1 the child caught a virus disease, bug, infection; dated contagion. 2 a computer virus worm, Trojan Horse.

Answer 3

Bacteria are considered living things, Viruses are not. Viruses lack the means of self-reproduction outside of the host cell.Viruses are not made of cells, Bacteria is unicellular.

Those are some of the differences I saw when I googled this. Great question, takes me back to 10th grade biology. I've listed my resources below if you want to check them out.

Answer 4

virus does not fight our antibodoes directly. they weaken it. there fore when bacteria comes in we will not be able to defend. for e.g. aids. we don't die from aids but from the type of bacteria that attacks

Answer 5

A virus is much, much smaller

Answer 6

viruses are smaller than bactria
bactria is alive but virus is dead out of body of someone
all of viruses are bad but all of bactrias aren't bad they help us to make youghert

Answer 7

virus is a living organism