Viruses vs plasmids

[Joao Vasconcelos Costa]

Ulrich Melcher wrote:
> 
> 1) Before the viral nature of the molecules responsible for the killer
> phenomenon in fungi (brewer's yeast and smut fungus) was discovered, the
> ds RNA molecules were, I think, called killer plasmids.  So, there is
> precedence for using the term "plasmid" with RNA.

Are you sure? They were called "killer factors" but I don't remember
having read "killer plasmids". However, I am not sure.

Joao

-- 
***  JOAO VASCONCELOS COSTA, MD, PhD
***  Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciencia - Oeiras, Portugal
***  mailto:jcosta at pen.gulbenkian.pt