Difference between viruses and bacteria

The main one Difference between virus and summarized bacteriawe could say that it is their state, that is, viruses are not considered living beings and bacteria yes. Even so, there are more differences between viruses and bacteria that we will see now

Size

Bacteria are much larger than viruses (sometimes up to 100 times larger), being possible the observation of these by optical microscopy, while to see the viruses, the highest resolution electronic microscopy is needed.

Structure

The anatomy of bacteria includes a Resistant cell wallas well as structural membranes and different intracellular organs such as:

• Ribosomes
• Cytoplasm.
• Bacterial genome.

Viruses, on the other hand, only have their genetic material included in the call Viral capsid.

Reproduction

In bacteria the reproduction process is complex And it is characterized by the ability of the stem cell to reproduce autonomously, that is, without the need of another organism to be able to divide and transmit their genetic information to their daughter cells, which are also able to divide and continue with the reproductive process.

Instead, Viruses are unable to reproduce without a living being to infect or parasitarthat is, without the help of the enzymatic and reproductive machinery of another cell to which they infect, thus allowing its reproduction through a process of replication of the genetic material that creates the “new” virus.

We tell you more about parasitism: definition and examples in the following Ecology Verde article.

Contagion

When bacteria infect some organism, the effects of their contagion are due to the action of different metabolic products thereof, which are harmful to the infected body, thus causing various diseases for which the supply of antibiotics that eliminate the cell wall from bacteria and, therefore, they cause bacterial death.

On the contrary, before a viral infection, the cells of the infected body will be attacked directly, since The smooth virus and directly breaks healthy cells To guarantee its survival, causing serious imbalances in the cellular organization and, in the case of animals, in their immune system.

Treatment

To deal with a viral infection, the APPLICATION OF VACCINES that end with the life of viruses, or Virostatic Action Medicines that slow the multiplication of the virus inside the organism, as well as other medications that reduce the effects of the infection, such as fever.

Both can be infected with various ways: direct contact between people, some of animals to people or vice versa, having contact with contaminated surfaces or contaminated materials and fluids (feces, urine, mucus, saliva or blood), by contaminated foods, etc. Infection itself or Transmission route will depend on the type of virus or bacteria of which you talk.

Now that you know what difference there is between a virus and a bacterium, we will see more detail the definition of each of them.

Once we have seen the differences between viruses and bacteria, we will see what are the similarities between them:

• They can have genetic material: RNA and DNA or both.
• They are microorganisms: Although they can vary in size, as we have seen before.
• They cause disease.

Now that you know the similarities and differences of viruses and bacteria, we will see the definition of virus and the definition of bacteria to know them more detail.

The viruses are Molecular and protein aggregates that lack their own life. However, they have genetic elements, and constitute one of the most numerous and diverse groups of systems or organisms that have evolved on the planet Earth.

Among the Main characteristics of viruses stand out:

• They need to infect other agencies to survive: Being able to attack animals, plants, fungi, bacteria and other microorganisms; even to other viruses.
• They do not perform any vital function: More than replicating to maintain infection in the host organism, with the aim of colonizing it and expanding the presence of new viral structures, always identical to the original virus.
• There are different types of viruses: according to its structure and type of genetic material.

Learn much more about them in this other ecology article about viruses are living beings or not?

Now that you know the Difference between viruses and bacteria And more characteristics about the former, we have to clarify What are bacteria. Bacteria are a group of unicellular microorganisms Really extensive and varied. They are able to survive in very hostile environments of the planet, both in aerobic conditions and anaerobic conditions, as well as in areas of high or low temperatures.

Thus have great survival resistance, which is directly related to many of the main characteristics of bacteria:

• They are made up of prokaryotic cells: lacking cell nucleus, but with various intracellular organelles, such as ribosomes and cytoplasm, as well as a resistant cell wall and structures associated with communication with other bacteria and the environment in which they live. They are able to live like this, both in isolation and in association (beneficial or harmful) with other organizations. Discover more about the prokaryotic cell: characteristics, parts and functions.
• They reproduce by cell division: Being the genetic material of daughter cells, identical to that of the stem cell, except in certain exceptions in which the exchange of genetic material between bacteria occurs.
• There are a wide variety of families of bacteria: which are grouped according to their structure and functionality. We tell you the types of bacteria that exist.

Discover much more about them and other similar organisms in this other Ecology post about the Monera Kingdom: what is, characteristics, classification and examples.

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