Chapter 9: Viral Genomes and Diversity

Question 1

RNA replicase

needed for positive or negative RNA strands?

Answer 1

Catalyzes replication of RNA from RNA template

Needed for negative strands

Question 2

Viroids

Answer 2

Infectious RNA molecules lacking a protein coat
Small circular ssRNA
Involved in plant diseases

Question 3

Prions

Answer 3

Infectious agents lacking extracellular nucleic acid (no DNA or RNA)
Conformation change that promotes subsequent conformation changes