Bacteria and viruses?!
Question: i am starting to learn about them but before we get deeper i already want to know some things so i would already know when i get asked...
1. what are the differences between the two of them?
2.what are they made up of?
3.what do they do?
4.whats so bad about them?and whats the good?
5.what some things we can do to protect ourselfs?
Answers: i am starting to learn about them but before we get deeper i already want to know some things so i would already know when i get asked...
1. what are the differences between the two of them?
2.what are they made up of?
3.what do they do?
4.whats so bad about them?and whats the good?
5.what some things we can do to protect ourselfs?
1.
Bacteria can reproduce independently of any other organisms.
Viruses are dependent on their hosts for reproduction.
Bacteria tend to be much bigger than viruses (with a few notable exceptions).
Viruses tend to hide within your cells while most bacteria don't (there are again exceptions like m. tuberculosis which lives inside cells, as does chlamydia which is again a bacterium).
There are actually loads of differences and it's difficult to whittle it down a little for you that way :)
2. Bacteria are cells. They have a cell wall and membrane and lots of intracellular structures (some quite similar to animal cells. Some different). Most bacteria don't have a nucleus for instance.
Viruses are tiny packets of DNA or RNA and sometimes packaged proteins and enzymes which hijack your own cells. They may or may not have a membrane around them (called an envelope).
3. Lots. Mostly grow and reproduce. But they can steal nutrients from you, kill your cells, produce toxins that are bad for your body. Of course many viruses and bacteria cause no harm to you at all as well.
4. It depends on the bacteria and viruses in question!
Some bacteria are actually good for you. Bacteria in our intestines actually produce folic acid for us for instance, the 'good' or 'comensoral' bacteria on our skn protect us by competing for food with bad bacteria.
Some viruses cause us little or no harm too. Some bacterial viruses (yes you get viruses that infect bacteria. They're called 'phages') can actually be helpful to them by making them able to survive antibiotics for instance, or produce toxins that help them fight other bacteria or indeed us!
5. good hygiene, and good nutrition and when needed antiobiotics can help defeat bacterial (but NOT viral) infection.
Could say loads more but I'm trying to keep it light ;-)
OK... You can kill Bacteria with medication, and a virus has no cure, a virus like the flu is something that you will always have once you get, but you body will create an immunity for it therefore it doesn't affect you. I am not sure of there structure. They attack the specified areas and kill your white blood cells. Well not all bacteria is bad... like women have some bacteria in there private parts that help them avoid infection, so not all bacteria is bad, as for a virus, I am not to sure, but they have been doing some studies on how to use viruses to fight reoccurring bacteria like the kind that gives women urinary tract infections. As far as protecting ourselves, cleanliness is key, and eating well so that we have a strong immune system... I hope some of this helps.