Question

How are viroids different from viruses?​

Answer 1

Viroids are the smallest known agent of infectious diseases that contain small single-stranded RNA molecule. They lack capsid and have no proteins associated with them. Viroids infect only plants. Whereas, viruses have genetic material surrounded by a protective coat of protein or lipoprotein. The genetic material of viruses are of 4 types – double-stranded DNA, double-stranded RNA, single-stranded DNA, single-stranded RNA. They infect both plants and animals.

Answer 2

Viroids are free RNA molecules of low molecular weight without any protein coat while viruses can have either RNA or DNA molecules encapsulated in a protein coat. Viroids are smaller in size than viruses

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