Viruses and bacteria are fundamentally different despite some similarities. Bacteria are living unicellular organisms with independent metabolism, while viruses are non-living entities that require host cells for replication. Bacteria can be beneficial, aiding human health, whereas viruses are mostly pathogenic. Both can be used in biotechnology for medical advancements.
Tag Archives: Bacteria
Viruses from the past trapped in glacier ice
It has been known since the beginning of the last century, that glaciers store in their depths microorganisms from thousands of years ago. The study of ice samples collected using core drills has allowed determining the environmental conditions of different ages, based on the characteristics of the bacteria they contain. In some cases, bacteria foundContinue reading “Viruses from the past trapped in glacier ice”
Searching for extraterrestrial microbes
All of us, at least once, have asked this question: there is life on other planets? When thinking about extraterrestrial life we usually imagine little green creatures with antennae on their head, but what scientists are looking for are microscopic organisms, more similar to bacteria than to humans. The American National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationContinue reading “Searching for extraterrestrial microbes”
Virus&Co. 