Another name for a complete virus is ___________.
a. Virion
b. Viroid
c. Prion
d. Capsid

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the terminology related to viruses: a complete virus particle includes the genetic material (DNA or RNA) enclosed within a protein coat called the capsid, and sometimes an envelope.
2. Review the options given: 'virion', 'viroid', 'prion', and 'capsid'.
3. Recall that a 'virion' refers to a fully assembled, infectious virus particle that is complete and capable of infecting a host cell.
4. Know that a 'viroid' is a small infectious RNA molecule without a protein coat, and a 'prion' is an infectious protein without nucleic acid.
5. Recognize that 'capsid' is just the protein coat of a virus, not the complete virus particle itself.

Key Concepts

Virion

A virion is the complete, infectious form of a virus outside a host cell, consisting of the viral genome enclosed within a protective protein coat called the capsid. It is capable of infecting a host and initiating viral replication.

Viroid

Viroids are small, circular RNA molecules that infect plants but lack a protein coat. Unlike viruses, viroids do not form virions and rely entirely on host machinery for replication, causing disease without encoding proteins.

Capsid

The capsid is the protein shell that encases and protects the viral genetic material. It is made of protein subunits called capsomeres and plays a key role in virus attachment and entry into host cells, but alone it is not a complete virus.