what's the difference between bacteria and virus?

Answer 1

Viruses are generally RNA surrounded by a protective shell. It has no organelles to speak, does not reproduce sexually(viruses enter a host cell and alters the cell's RNA to match it's own literally recreating itself-different from asexual reproduction), and needs a host cells to survive.

Bacteria on the other hand are living organisms that reproduce asexually. They also require oxygen, nourishment, and can live independently i.e no need for hosts.

Bacteria can be killed with drugs since they are living. Viruses, however, can not cured by any conventional drug. Viruses need to be removed completely or inhibited so that they can no longer find a host.

Answer 2

Bacteria are technically alive. They metabolize, reproduce, maintain their own homeostasis, and react to their environment. Viruses are not technically alive because they depend on invading host cells and using their machinery to provide the energy, raw materials, and sometimes the enzymes needed to copy and package the viral genome.

-The viral genome may be RNA or DNA, while the bacterial genome is always DNA. The bacterial genome is always double-stranded, but the viral genome may be double or single stranded.
-The largest, most complex virus that I know of has fewer genes than the smallest, simplest species of bacteria that I know of. (This is because the virus mooches stuff from its host)
-Viruses can infect bacteria, but not the other way around.
-Viruses replicate by assembly, while bacteria replicate by cell division.
-Some species of bacteria that cause disease in humans replicate outside the host cells and some replicate inside the host cells, but bacteria may only replicate inside the host cells.

Edited to add:
Regarding the answer below me... Wrong! They have the right general idea about bacteria being alive and all, but the examples are wrong. Bacteria are prokaryotes. As such, bacteria do not have mitochondria; their electron transport chain is in their cell membrane. In fact, it's thought that mitochondria originated when the ancestral eukaryote developped a symbiotic relationship with its intracellular bacteria. Bacteria also do not have a nuclear membrane, therefore even if they keep their DNA organized, they don't really have a proper nucleus . They do not have an endoplasmic reticulum either.

Also wrong: the statement that bacteria can't mutate. Oh yes they can! But some viruses have really phenomenal mutation rates. This is one of the reasons there's no HIV vaccine and why we need a new flu vaccine every year.

Also wrong: Someone called viruses unicellular. Viruses cannot be considered unicellualar because they aren't even a cell. We call them virus particles.

Answer 3

GOOD QUESTION!

Both are germs and can cause illness. Bacteria are MUCH bigger than viruses, but neither can be seen without a microscope. Their are lots of differences, but the ones that concern us the most is how they are TREATED.

Bacteria are very powerful and can cause sever, serious illnesses. Some bacterial diseases can kill within a DAY. Fortunately, bacteria can be killed (cured) with antibiotics.

Viruses are much weaker than bacteria but they can MUTATE very quickly, which is why there is no cure for the Common Cold -- different viruses cause each cold that you get! Viruses can't be killed by antibiotics, which is why your doctor won't (or shouldn't) give you an antibiotic for a cold -- it won't work! Colds and the flu are caused by viruses. The only defenses we have against viruses are vaccines -- and our own bodies ability to fight them off. For a vaccine to be effective, it must be given BEFORE you get the virus, which is why we vaccinate our children. Even thought viruses aren't as strong as bacteria, they still can kill, although usually they do it much slower.

If you go visit a friend who has a cold and then next morning you wake up with a cold -- you did NOT get it from your friend. You got the cold a week ago. It takes a week to ten days for most viruses to make you ill.

Here's just one example: Meningitis (inflamation of the lining around your brain) can be bacterial or viral. Bacterial mengitis is BAD -- you can catch it in the morning and be dead by night. BUT it can be cured by antibiotics. Viral meningitis is also bad, but not nearly as deadly as bacterial. There is no cure for viral meningitis, just supportive care that helps your own body fight the infection.

Pneumonia can also be viral or bacterial.

Rabies is a virus. I mention it here because it's just about the deadliest disease on the planet. If you are vaccinated BEFORE you get the symptoms, you can be cured. If the first symptoms show up -- you are dead. Period. So if you ever suspect you are bitten by a rabid animal, don't fool around, GET VACCINATED!

Everything I wrote is in GENERAL terms. There might be some drugs that are effective against some viruses. But IN GENERAL, I hope this answers your question!

Answer 4

Bacteria are prokaryotes, hence they are considered living organisms. They have a cell membrane but their organelles are not membrane bound. They have the ability to reproduce on their own, binary fission . A virus on the other hand is considered nonliving, it carries within it a few proteins and its DNA or RNA. In order to reproduce it must use the reproductive abilities of a living cell. Hence, they attach and invade living cells so they can reproduce. A good example of a virus is a common cold virus or polio. An example of a bacteria is strep or staph.

Answer 5

Bacteria are fully living entities. Virus are essentially RNA wrapped in some shell, and require a host to provide life functions while it can reproduce itself. Viruses are usually 2-3 orders of magnitude smaller than bacteria.

Answer 6

Bacteria are prokaryotes, hence they are considered living organisms. They have a cell membrane but their organelles are not membrane bound. They have the ability to reproduce on their own, binary fission . A virus on the other hand is considered nonliving, it carries within it a few proteins and its DNA or RNA. In order to reproduce it must use the reproductive abilities of a living cell. Hence, they attach and invade living cells so they can reproduce.

Answer 7

Bacteria grows and can cause an illness. You need antibiotics to tret bacteria and kill it. YOu would not know i I saw on tv there is so much bacteria on your toothbrush. Change it once a month and I pump antibacterial soap on it once a day!
Viruses I remember have hosts.
I think I have to read more up on this topic it sounds very interesting since I got kids and they did just get over some nasty colds. WOW.
Joanne
Did you know in the past a chinese medicine dragons blood. Real or myth was used to fight ulcers???? Hmmm Something to read when you have extra time!
have a good day.

Answer 8

Bacteria and virus both are unicellular the major difference between them is that virus is boarderline organism that is actually in the in between phase of living and death they are crystallized but due to some forign antigens or particles they become active and cause infection virus is also too mush smaller you can't see by compound microscope you can see by electron microscope similarly virus is not killed by antibiotics and antibiotics are harmfull to bacteria.

Answer 9

Bacteria-ubiquitous one-celled organisms, spherical, spiral, or rod-shaped and appearing singly or in chains, comprising the Schizomycota, a phylum of the kingdom Monera (in some classification systems the plant class Schizomycetes), various species of which are involved in fermentation, putrefaction, infectious diseases, or nitrogen fixation.


virus- an ultramicroscopic (20 to 300 nm in diameter), metabolically inert, infectious agent that replicates only within the cells of living hosts, mainly bacteria, plants, and animals: composed of an RNA or DNA core, a protein coat, and, in more complex types, a surrounding envelope.
2. Informal. a viral disease.
3. a corrupting influence on morals or the intellect; poison.
4. a segment of self-replicating code planted illegally in a computer program, often to damage or shut down a system or network.

Answer 10

Some bacteria is good for your body, while a virus is sorta like a very "bad-for-your-body" bacteria.