human
Can you explain the difference between a virus and a bacterium?
assistant
A virus is a small infectious agent that replicates only inside the living cells of an organism. It consists of a genome surrounded by a protein coat, which allows it to invade the host cell. Bacteria are single-celled organisms that can reproduce on their own, without needing a host. They consist of one or more circular DNA molecules called chromosomes, along with a number of other structures that help them to survive and reproduce.