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CGP EDU Academic Team
Published on: August 21, 2026
Viroids are
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Verified by ExpertsThe correct answer is:
D
Definition: Viroids are the smallest known infectious pathogens, first discovered by T.O. Diener in 1971.
Composition: They consist exclusively of a short, single-stranded, circular RNA molecule.
"Free" Nature: They are referred to as "free" RNA because they lack a protein coat (capsid). This is the primary distinction between viroids and viruses, the latter of which always have genetic material (DNA or RNA) enclosed in a protein shell.
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