Index >>Viroids and Prions >>Viroids as Primitive Viruses

Viroids as Primitive Viruses - According to this view, viroids must have originated from cellular RNAs.
RNA synthesis on RNA templates must be occuring in most, if not all, apparently healthy cells.
Viroids must have originated from this RNA.
They may be regarded as primitive viruses which have not yet induced the biosynthetic machinery of their hosts for their own replication or coding specific coat  proteins.