PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS
SKILLS & TECHNOLOGIES
SOME DETAILS
There are billions of viruses and bacteria everywhere, reproducing all the time. In our intestine alone, there are 1015 viruses – 1000 times more than the stars in the Milky Way. Most of them attack the bacteria present there, and thus help regulate their populations. Similarly, in a normal adult, bacterial cells are very important for the normal functioning of our intestine and skin, they help break down food and even produce vitamins that we cannot make ourselves. In fact, bacterial cells outnumber our own cells 10 to 1, and not having the right bacteria can cause various problems in and of itself.
Now that we have established the benefits of these microorganisms in humans, let’s go over some of the differences between them and how they cause disease.
SOME DETAILS
Viruses are intracellular parasites that require a host cell, which they take over and force to manufacture more of them. They are much smaller compared to bacteria and reproduce a lot faster, with a single host cell being able to produce millions of new viral particles. A major requirement for viruses is reaching the right type of cell. For example, influenza can only cause the flu once in the respiratory tract. While still much smaller than our own cells, bacteria are self-sufficient. They only require nutrients and a welcoming environment to proliferate. They also reproduce rapidly, but do so by division – similar to our own cells.
So, in conclusion, viruses are microscopic, rely on other cells to replicate, and antibiotics do not work against them. Bacteria are complete cells, capable of replicating on their own via division, they are much larger, and can be treated with antibiotics. Either way, if you are worried about an infection, best see a doctor, rather than relying on youtube videos. If you want to know why, watch our video on critical thinking.
