Hey so I was just playing Plague Inc when it got a question to pop into my head as I the game we can tell a virus from a bacteria or fungus because we are the one’s in control but can someone please how we can do that IRL or if we even can?
In: Biology
Loads of different ways.
You can identify their genetic material through PCR. You can grow them under culture conditions that some survive and others don’t. You can look at them under a microscope. Etc etc.
Not everything is viable for every pathogen, and many techniques require that you know what you’re looking for to some degree. Signs/symptoms in the patient as well as their history (clinical but also certain risk behaviours) can point you in the right direction.
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