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Viroids are best described as which kind of infectious particle?
AAn enveloped DNA virus of cattle
BA protein-only agent of humans
CA circular RNA pathogen of plants
DA segmented RNA virus of birds
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: C. A circular RNA pathogen of plants
1. Viroids are plant pathogens.
2. Each one is a small, single-stranded, circular RNA particle.
3. They are much simpler than a virus and have neither a capsid nor an outer envelope.
4. A protein-only agent with no nucleic acid is a prion, so that option describes the other acellular entity.
_Source: OpenStax Biology (1st ed., CC BY 4.0), Ch 21 "Viruses", section 21.4 Other Acellular Entities: Prions and Viroids_
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