Biology: What is a prion? What is a prion disease?
The tutor gives a brief idea about prions.
In the body, a protein’s function depends on its shape. A prion is a molecule that can misshape a protein so it no longer functions properly. The cell that uses that protein may then not function either, and may even disrupt the function of its neighbors if it’s meant to work in concert with them.
A prion disease results from the action of prions. Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) and variant CJD are examples. Prion diseases tend to attack the nervous system, and tend to be fatal.
Source:
Mader, Sylvia. Inquiry into Life, 11th ed. Toronto: McGraw-Hill, 2006.
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