plasmatids

Plasmatids are a hypothetical type of intracellular parasite, distinct from viruses and viroids, that have been proposed to exist within the cytoplasm of eukaryotic cells. The term "plasmatid" is not widely recognized in mainstream microbiology or virology, and the concept remains largely theoretical, often appearing in speculative or fringe scientific literature.

The core idea behind plasmatids is that they represent a form of genetic material, possibly DNA or RNA, that can replicate independently within the host cell's cytoplasm without necessarily encapsulating itself in a protein coat like a virus. Unlike viruses, which typically infect cells and hijack their machinery for replication and assembly, or viroids, which are naked RNA molecules that primarily infect plants, plasmatids are envisioned as existing more diffusely within the cytoplasm.

Proponents of the plasmatid concept suggest they might be remnants of ancient cellular parasites or a unique evolutionary pathway for genetic elements to persist within a host. However, a lack of empirical evidence supporting their existence means plasmatids are not currently accepted as a biological entity by the scientific community. Research into intracellular parasites and genetic elements continues, but the term "plasmatid" has not gained traction due to the absence of verifiable observations or experimental data.