Bacteria vs. Virus

(written on April 11, 2020)

These are the differences, similarities and individual characteristics of viruses and bacteria as explained by the modern scientists.

Bacteria

• Classified as living entities (prokaryotic cells)

• Contain the following parts:

  • Cell wall

  • DNA

• Bacteria reproduce asexually in a process called binary fission (this process splits the bacterium into two identical organisms)

Virus

• Not classified as living entities (protein structure which contains a nucleic acid)

• Contains the following parts:

  • A protein shell

  • A piece of DNA or RNA

  • Might have an envelope, active proteins, etc.)

• Viruses need to reproduce by infiltrating a host cell and making the host cell produce more viruses

The main difference according to the scientists is that bacteria are alive, while viruses cannot exactly be defined as living. Viruses are much smaller than bacteria, too and they can actually use bacteria as hosts because bacteria are cells.