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Viroids quiz

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  • What type of organism do viroids infect and cause disease in?
    Viroids infect and cause disease only in plant cells.
  • What is the structural composition of a viroid?
    A viroid is composed of a single short strand of RNA that forms a closed ring structure.
  • How do viroids enter plant cells?
    Viroids enter plant cells through wound sites, often caused by physical damage such as insect bites.
  • Do viroids encode for any proteins?
    No, viroids do not encode for any proteins.
  • What enzyme do viroids use for replication inside host cells?
    Viroids replicate using the host cell's RNA dependent RNA polymerase.
  • How do viroids cause disease in plants?
    Viroids block the expression of plant genes, leading to disease.
  • What is the main difference between viroids and viruses in terms of structure?
    Viroids are made only of RNA, while viruses are made of proteins, nucleic acids, and sometimes lipids.
  • How do viroids act similarly to small interfering RNAs (siRNAs)?
    Viroids act like siRNAs by blocking the translation of host mRNA, preventing gene expression.
  • What happens to host mRNA in the presence of viroids?
    Host mRNA is blocked from being translated, so the corresponding proteins are not produced.
  • Are viroids acellular or cellular organisms?
    Viroids are acellular obligate intracellular parasites.
  • What is the consequence of viroids preventing translation of host mRNA?
    The host plant cannot produce certain proteins, which can lead to disease.
  • Do viroids have a lipid envelope like some viruses?
    No, viroids do not have a lipid envelope; they are only made of RNA.
  • What is still ongoing in the scientific community regarding viroids?
    Continued research is being done to better understand viroids.
  • What is the shape of the RNA strand in a viroid?
    The RNA strand in a viroid is circular, forming a closed ring.
  • What is the role of RNA dependent RNA polymerase in viroid replication?
    RNA dependent RNA polymerase copies the viroid RNA, allowing it to replicate inside the host cell.