Most people are confused about viruses and bacteria because viruses and bacteria both are microscopic microbes. Some people think that viruses and bacteria are two names of the same thing. It is a wrong belief because there is a clear difference between viruses and bacteria. Its reason is that viruses are small infectious agents which have the ability to replicate inside living organisms. On the other hand, bacteria are slightly larger than viruses and they have the ability to replicate itself outside the body of the living organisms. The main difference between viruses and bacteria is given below;
Difference between Virus and Bacteria in the Tabular Form
Difference Between Virus and Bacteria (Part-1)
Bacteria and viruses are different from each other in lots of aspects. The main difference between bacteria and viruses is given below;
i. Firstly, the first difference between viruses and bacteria is that bacteria are much larger than viruses. The size of the bacteria is almost 1000 nm. On the other hand, the size of the bacteria is between 20 to 400 nm.
ii. Secondly, there is also a difference between the living attributes of viruses and bacteria. Bacteria don’t require a living host to reproduce it. On the other hand, viruses require a living host to reproduce it. Therefore, bacteria are known as living organisms and viruses are in between living and non-living things.
iii. Thirdly, all viruses are harmful. On the other hand, some bacteria are useful and some bacteria are harmful.
iv. Fourthly, with the help of antibiotics, it is not possible for us to kill the viruses. On the other hand, some bacteria can be killed with the help of antibiotics. If we want to kill viruses, we have to use vaccines.
v. Fifthly, bacteria and viruses can become causes of different kinds of diseases. Strep throat is the most common disease that is flourished due to bacteria. On the other hand, flu is a major disease that is flourished due to viruses.
Part-2
vi. We can easily see bacteria with the help of a light microscope, whereas, to see viruses, we have to use an electron microscope.
vii. There is also a difference between the cells of bacteria and viruses. Bacteria have one cell. That’s why it is called a unicellular organism. On the other hand, viruses don’t have a cell.
viii. In bacteria, a cell wall is present, whereas, in viruses, the cell wall is absent.
ix. There is also a difference between the genetic material of bacteria and viruses. In bacteria, single and circular chromosomes are present as genetic material. On the other hand, in viruses, DNA/RNA strands are present as the genetic material.
x. There are ribosomes present in the bacteria, whereas, ribosomes are absent in the viruses. You may also like to read about the difference between mass and weight.
Part-3
xi. The process of metabolism occurs inside the bacterium cell. On the other hand, there is no chance of the occurrence of the metabolism process inside the cells of the viruses.
xii. There is also a difference between the reproduction of bacteria and viruses. In bacteria, the process of reproduction occurs through binary fission and conjugation, whereas, in viruses, the process of reproduction occurs due to the destruction of the cells. The bacterium cell has the ability to reproduce itself. On the other hand, it is impossible for viruses to reproduce themselves without the presence of a living organism.
xiii. In the bacterium cell, cellular machinery is present. On the other hand, in the virus cell, there is a lack of cellular machinery.
xiv. There is also a difference between the infections that are caused by bacteria and viruses because bacteria can become the cause of localized infections. On the other hand, viruses can become the cause of systematic infections.
xv. In the human body, bacteria become the cause of fever. On the other hand, due to the presence of viruses, there are fewer chances of fever.
xvi. There is also a difference between the duration of the illnesses that are caused by bacteria and viruses. It means that a bacterial illness can last more than 10 days. On the other hand, a viral infection can easily be treated just within 2 to 10 days.
Thanks for reading about the whole differences between viruses and bacteria.
