Viruses and Viroids

The transcript discusses the discovery and characteristics of viruses, focusing on the tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) as the first recognized virus. It explains the nature of viruses as non-living entities that require a host for replication, their genetic material, and the diseases they cause in humans and plants. The structure of TMV and bacteriophages is detailed, along with the introduction of viroids and prions as simpler infectious agents.

List some diseases caused by viruses in humans.

What are viroids and how do they differ from viruses?

What role do prions play in diseases of vertebrates?