preview

Viruses And Bacteria And Viruses Essay

Satisfactory Essays

When you think of bacteria and microorganisms, what is the first thing that comes to mind? Typically, people go to the top shelf when thinking of germs and microbes. The words seem to inspire terror by recalling topics such as anthrax or Ebola or just chemical weapons in general. Would it surprise you to discover that many people do not know the difference between bacteria and a virus? Anthrax - being a disease caused by the bacteria Bacillus anthracis - and Ebola being a virus that isn 't even a living thing. While both bacteria and viruses can cause horrible diseases and crippling illnesses, the methods in which they do so are radically different.

Bacteria have a multitude of methods in which they induce illnesses. Some bacteria can directly attack your healthy cells and, in a sense, "eat" you. Other bacteria simply produce toxins as they are killed that make you sick. Viruses, on the other hand, are less easy to explain. While they are organic, they are technically non-living – as they have no means to replicate themselves. The best analogy is to think of them as little pieces of DNA that are just floating through the air. When these little strands of DNA come into contact with a host that they are compatible with, they essentially "bond" with the host 's DNA and alter it. This alteration causes the infected cells to go rogue and start behaving erratically. Typically, this incites an immune response in a healthy person.

Despite the terror and general grimness that

Get Access