Size Comparison: Viruses vs Mycoplasma

Viruses and mycoplasma are both microscopic organisms that can cause diseases in humans, animals, and plants. However, they differ in terms of their structure and size.

Virus Size

- Viruses are the smallest infectious agents known to man.
- They are so small that they can only be seen under an electron microscope, which magnifies objects by up to 100,000 times.
- The size of viruses ranges from 20 to 400 nanometers (nm) in diameter.
- Some of the smallest viruses, such as the parvoviruses, are only about 20 nm in size, while some of the largest viruses, such as pandoraviruses, can reach up to 1 micrometer in size.

Mycoplasma Size

- Mycoplasma, on the other hand, are larger than viruses and can be seen under a light microscope.
- They are the smallest free-living microorganisms and lack a cell wall, which makes them unique from other bacteria.
- The size of mycoplasma ranges from 0.2 to 0.8 micrometers (μm) in diameter.
- Although they are larger than viruses, mycoplasma are still one of the smallest bacteria and are difficult to culture in a laboratory.

Conclusion

In conclusion, viruses are smaller than mycoplasma in terms of their size. Viruses are the smallest infectious agents known to man, with a size range of 20 to 400 nm in diameter, while mycoplasma range from 0.2 to 0.8 μm in diameter.