3 ms·

How do the size of these bacteria compare with that of viruses?

• hga 12y ago
  Not really my area, but I'd guess the smallest viruses are a lot smaller. They don't have to function at all, just deliver a packet of genetic material to a target. So they don't have to be very large, just that genetic material plus stuff to protect it and to get into the target and attack.
• jloughry 12y ago
  The smallest virus is 17 nm in diameter, according to Wikipedia. Most are 20 to 300 nm. The bacterium here is about 500 nm across, almost exactly the wavelength of visible light.