Question

Differentiate between bacteria and viruses.

Answer 1

Hint: Bacteria are single-celled microorganisms and dwell in diverse environmental conditions. Similar to bacteria, viruses are also very small organisms which are parasitic as they depend on other host organism bodies to survive and replicate.

Complete Answer:

Sl.No	Bacteria	Viruses
1.	Comparatively bigger than viruses.	Comparatively smaller than bacteria.
2.	They live outside the host body.	They are dead outside the host body.
3.	Do not need a host body to survive.	Need a host body or living cell to survive.
4.	It does not require a host organism to reproduce.	It requires a host organism to reproduce.
5.	Bacteria can survive in almost all feasible environments.	Virus cannot survive in all environmental conditions.

Bacteria are found to have varying shape and structure. They can reside and replicate either inside a host organism body or also in diverse environmental conditions. They are also small in shape and size but comparatively larger than that of the viruses. Only a few classes of bacteria cause infections or diseases amongst human beings or other species. Such classes of bacteria are referred to as pathogenic bacteria. The viruses are more lethal as compared to bacteria as their detection at initial level is very difficult. The viruses attach themselves to the host cells and generally reprogram them to replicate on their own.

Note: It is very important to note that most of the bacteria which get contaminated with a virus that the bacteria had not observed earlier, such bacteria would die. Generally, the death of bacteria in such conditions occurs probably due to mutations or genetic irregularities in the DNA (Deoxyribose Nucleic Acid) of the bacterium.