Virus
A virus is an infectious particle containing genetic material inside a protein coat, sometimes with an outer envelope.
100 nmCharacteristic sizeBeyond the eye
Virus vs 2 µm bacterium
What are they, and what does the difference actually look like?
Two things. One honest scale.
Meet the pair
What these two things are
2 µm bacterium
A bacterium is a single-celled microorganism without a membrane-bound nucleus.
2 µmLengthThe length of 2 µm bacterium is about 20 times the characteristic size of Virus.
01
Virus100 nmCharacteristic size
02
2 µm bacterium2 µmLength
Both marked spans share one linear scale. Artwork keeps its proportions; poses and surface detail are illustrative.
Measurements, assumptions & sources +
Virus
A chosen 100 nm viral particle, including the approximate envelope. Viruses vary greatly.
University of Utah — Cell size and scale
The marked characteristic size is calibrated. Unmeasured illustration details are representative.
2 µm bacterium
A 2 µm long illustrative bacterium. Species and growth conditions vary.
Defined examples — our methodology
The marked length is calibrated. Unmeasured illustration details are representative.
Change the comparison
Put something else beside it.
Measurement details
Why these numbers?
The visual compares characteristic size with length. The records below preserve each value’s basis and caveats.
Virus
100 nmCharacteristic size · representative
A chosen 100 nm viral particle, including the approximate envelope. Viruses vary greatly.
2 µm bacterium
2 µmLength · example
A 2 µm long illustrative bacterium. Species and growth conditions vary.
- Comparing
- Characteristic size ↔ Length
- Relative size
- 2 µm bacterium is larger on this measurement by a factor of about 20.
How to read the visual
The labelled spans and stored measurements determine the scale; unmeasured illustration details do not.
- Virus is labelled representative; treat the displayed value as a comparison anchor rather than false precision.
- 2 µm bacterium is labelled example; treat the displayed value as a comparison anchor rather than false precision.
There’s always another scale
Follow your curiosity.
MicroscopicVirus100 nmA virus is an infectious particle containing genetic material inside a protein coat, sometimes with an outer envelope.Microscopic2 µm bacterium2 µmA bacterium is a single-celled microorganism without a membrane-bound nucleus.
Fundamental physicsProton1.682 fmA proton is a positively charged particle found in the nucleus of atoms, made up of quarks.
Microscopic10 µm cell10 µmA cell is the basic structural unit of living organisms.
People70 µm hair70 µmA hair is a slender strand of protein that grows from the skin of humans and other mammals.Side by side
Another point of view.
