What is the Difference Between Virus and Viroids?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The main differences between viruses and viroids are:
- Nucleic Acid: Viruses are composed of a nucleic acid, either ribonucleic acid (RNA) or deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), enclosed in a protein coat. In contrast, viroids consist of low molecular weight RNA without a protein coat.
- Size: Viroids are smaller in size than viruses.
- Host Range: Viroids infect only plants, while viruses can infect a wide range of organisms, including animals, bacteria, and fungi.
- Protein Coat: Viroids lack a protein coat, whereas viruses have a protein covering or capsid.
In summary, viruses are larger pathogens with a protein coat that can infect various organisms, while viroids are smaller RNA molecules without a protein coat that specifically infect plants.
Comparative Table: Virus vs Viroids
Here is a table comparing the differences between viruses and viroids:
| Feature | Virus | Viroid |
|---|---|---|
| Nucleic Acid | Single- or double-stranded DNA or RNA | Single-stranded low molecular weight RNA |
| Capsid | Protein coat present | Protein coat absent |
| Protein | Manufactures proteins and enters the host cell | RNA does not code for any proteins |
| Host | Infects bacteria, plants, and animals | Infects only plants |
Viruses and viroids are both infectious agents, but they differ in their genetic material, capsid structure, and host organisms they infect.
Read more:
- Viroid vs Virusoid
- Prions vs Viroids
- Virus vs Virion
- Bacteria vs Viruses
- Retrovirus vs Virus
- Virus vs Worm
- Plant Virus vs Animal Virus
- Virus vs Prion
- DNA vs RNA Viruses
- Virus vs Antivirus
- Malware vs Virus
- RNA Viruses vs Retroviruses
- Provirus vs Retrovirus
- Retrovirus vs Bacteriophage
- Enveloped vs Nonenveloped Viruses
- Lentivirus vs Retrovirus
- Adenovirus vs Retrovirus
- Prophage vs Provirus
- Viral vs Nonviral Vectors