Question

There are different infectious agents that are smaller replicating systems than viruses. Describe how One of these agents differ from viruses with regard to the following:
i ) Morphology
ii) Replication

Answer 1

Infectious organism that are smaller than viruses are viroids and prions

Morphology difference

1. They are less in diameter when compared to viruses
2. Viruses have capsid but prions are not having capsids
3. Prions have no DNA as well as no RNA but viruses have
4. Prions are protein molecules
5. Viruses are not a single molecule but prions are

Difference in replication

Prions are certain misfolded protein molecules that has the ability to convert the cells of the host organisms that they attack into toxic molecules and cause the replication

Viruses replicate by inducing it's RNA or DNA into host cells and replicate the viruses using host cells