What Is the Difference Between a Virus and a Bacterium?

Imagine a tiny virus is like a sneaky thief who can’t do anything on its own, it needs to steal tools from a bacterium, which is more like a strong, independent worker. The virus tricks the bacterium into making copies of itself, while bacteria can multiply all by themselves.

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A virus is like a thief who needs a bacterium’s tools to multiply, while bacteria can make copies of themselves without help.
Viruses are tiny invaders that need a host cell, whereas bacteria can grow by themselves in the soil or your gut.
When you get sick from a cold, it's a virus; if it's a bacterial infection like strep throat, it’s a different kind of germ.

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Categories: Biology · virus,bacteria,microbiology