Question

How are viruses different from bacteria? APEX

Answer 1

Viruses do not have any cells or metabolism. Viruses cannot reproduce on their own.

Most scientists do not consider viruses to be living.

Bacteria and fungi have cells, metabolism, and are able to reproduce.

Answer 2

Bacteria are unicellular microorganisms that can be found everywhere in the environment. Viruses are microorganisms that can only reproduce within the cells of a host organism.

The differences between viruses and bacteria include;  

1. Viruses do not have any cell and are considered between living and non-living things, while bacteria have one cell (Unicellular) and are living organisms.
2. Viruses are smaller in size (20-400 nm) when compared with bacteria (1000 nm).
3. Viruses do not have a cell wall but a protein coat is present, while bacteria have a cell wall that is composed of peptidoglycan.
4. Viruses require a living cell to reproduce, while bacteria can reproduce by itself.
5. The DNA or RNA of viruses is enclosed inside a coat of protein, while that of bacteria floats freely in the cytoplasm within the cell.