Viruses contain both nucleic acids (DNA or RNA) and a protein coat.

Viruses caus e infection by inserting their genetic material in a host cell. The host cell th en replicates and reads the genetic material, making new viruses that eventually burst out of the cell and leave to infect more. The reason viruses cause diseas e is that the infected cells cannot carry out the normal functions necessary bec ause its machinery is being used by the virus, and eventually the cell dies. Viroids have no protein coat, but are only the nucleic acid (RNA). Because of th is, they are often carried around inside viruses. For example, Hepatitis D is a viroid that is carried in the capsid of the Hepatitis B virus.