Multiple Choice
Which acellular infectious agent is described as a tiny, nonliving particle that invades and then reproduces inside a living cell?
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1. Introduction to Microbiology
Acellular Infectious Agents: Viruses, Viroids & Prions
Multiple Choice
Which group of organisms are viroids (not viruses) most likely to parasitize?
A
Animals
B
Fungi
C
Plants
D
Bacteria
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand what viroids are: Viroids are small, circular RNA molecules that lack a protein coat, distinguishing them from viruses.
Recall the nature of viroids: They are known to infect only certain types of organisms, specifically those that can support their replication and cause disease.
Consider the host range of viroids: Viroids are primarily known to parasitize plants, causing various plant diseases by interfering with normal plant cell functions.
Eliminate other options: Animals, fungi, and bacteria are not typical hosts for viroids because viroids require the cellular machinery found in plant cells for replication.
Conclude that the group of organisms viroids most likely parasitize is plants, based on their biology and known host specificity.
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