MDCAT Biology MCQ #43

A plant pathologist discovers an infectious agent causing stunted growth in potatoes that lacks a capsid and consists only of RNA. What is this agent?

MDCAT Biology MCQ #43

  1. Question 1

    Q1. A plant pathologist discovers an infectious agent causing stunted growth in potatoes that lacks a capsid and consists only of RNA. What is this agent?

    • A) Prions
    • B) Bacteriophages
    • C) Retroviruses
    • D) Viroids

    Answer: Viroids

    Explanation: Viroids consist solely of circular RNA without a protein coat. Prions are tempting but they consist only of proteins without nucleic acids.