MDCAT Biology MCQ #11

Scientists discover an infectious agent that causes scrapie in sheep but lacks any detectable nucleic acids. What is the nature of this agent?

MDCAT Biology MCQ #11

  1. Question 1

    Q1. Scientists discover an infectious agent that causes scrapie in sheep but lacks any detectable nucleic acids. What is the nature of this agent?

    • A) Protein only
    • B) RNA only
    • C) DNA only
    • D) Nucleoprotein complex

    Answer: Protein only

    Explanation: Prions are purely proteinaceous infectious particles. Viroids consist only of naked RNA, lacking the protein component found in prions.