VIRUSES AND PROKARYOTES

You are probably familiar with the terms "virus" and "bacteria," but you may not know exactly what they are.

Viruses, bacteria, and archaea are microscopic entities that play powerful roles in shaping life on Earth. Bacteria and archaea are single-celled organisms that can live in diverse environments—from soil and oceans to the human body—where they help recycle nutrients and support ecosystems. Although bacteria and archaea are similar in size and simplicity, archaea have unique genetic and chemical features that allow many of them to survive in extreme conditions such as hot springs or salty lakes. Viruses are even smaller and are not considered living cells; instead, they depend on infecting host cells to reproduce, influencing both health and evolution across all forms of life. 

Check out the following content in the subpages here to learn more about them from our students.