Virus/Prion/Protist/Bacteria Comparison

Virus/Prion/Protist/Bacteria Comparison

Virus

·       The smallest viruses can be only 20nm in diameter.

·       Even the largest viruses are barely visible on a LMS.

·       Viruses are not cells

·       Virus genomes may consist of double-stranded, single-stranded, DNA or RNA.

·       The smallest viruses have only 4 genes while the largest have several hundred.

Prions

• Infectious proteins.
• Cause degenerative brain diseases in animals.
• Transmission through food.
• Slow-Acting
• Virtually Indestructible

Protista

• Eukaryotic
• Unicellular
• Loose grouping of 30-40 disparate phyla
• Simple organization
• Molds
• Algae
• Some are photosynthetic
• Some cause Malaria and sleeping sickness

Bacteria

• Prokaryotic
• Single celled
• Wide variety of shapes
• No Nucleus
• Most biomass on Earth
• Integral to many ecosystem processes
• May be infected by bacteriophages
• Used to make food