Multiple Choice
Mad cow disease is a prion disease found in cattle. Why are prion diseases in meat a big concern?
18. Viruses, Viroids, & Prions
Prions
Struggling with Microbiology?
Join thousands of students who trust us to help them ace their exams!Watch the first videoMultiple Choice
Viroids and prions are both infectious agents. All of the following are major differences between viroids and prions except which of these answers?
A
Viroids are only known to infect plant cells while prions are known to infect plant and animal cells.
B
Viroids cause the misfolding of the host cell's proteins while prions block the host cell's expression of genes.
C
Viroids are nucleic acid molecules while prions are composed of polypeptide chains.
D
Viroids require the host's RNA polymerase to replicate while prions replicate by transforming the host cell's proteins.
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand the nature of viroids and prions: Viroids are small, circular RNA molecules that infect plants, while prions are misfolded proteins that can cause disease in animals.
Identify the replication mechanism: Viroids rely on the host's RNA polymerase for replication, whereas prions propagate by inducing misfolding in normal host proteins.
Examine the composition: Viroids are composed of nucleic acids (RNA), while prions are composed of proteins (polypeptide chains).
Consider the host range: Viroids are known to infect plant cells, whereas prions primarily affect animal cells, particularly the nervous system.
Analyze the given options to find the exception: Compare each statement to the known characteristics of viroids and prions to identify which statement does not represent a major difference between them.
Related Videos
Related Practice
