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Question: Answered & Verified by Expert
Read the given statements that describe an infectious particle.

(i) It was discovered by T.O. Diener and was found to be smaller than viruses.
(ii) It causes potato spindle tuber disease.
(iii) It is a free RNA particle which lacks the protein coat.
(iv) It has low molecular weight RNA as genetic material.

Which of the following organism is characterized by the above characteristics?
BiologyBiological ClassificationNEET
Options:
  • A Virion
  • B Viroid
  • C Prion
  • D Bacteriophage
Solution:
2829 Upvotes Verified Answer
The correct answer is: Viroid
Viroids are small, circular RNA molecules without a protein coat, and they consist only of nucleic acid( RNA). They require other helper viruses to establish an infection. The smallest viroid identified is small cytoplasmic RNA. It causes potato spindle tuber disease and they are smaller than viruses.

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