I understand that prions are folded proteins that cause infectious diseases in the brains of mammals.
**Some questions on top of the **
1. So don’t eat mammal brains in case of prions – does this mean all mammals have prions in their brains?
2. If I ate a mammal brain and got a prion disease, is it possible that that mammal doesn’t have the disease?
3. Is it the prions themselves that are infectious, or the diseases they cause that are?
4. How do the prions cause the diseases?
In: Biology
Disclaimer: this is a very ELI5 explanation, glossing over several nuances.
Proteins are a long chain of amino acids. Think of each amino acid as having a slightly different magnetic pull in slightly different areas. This combination of magnetic forces “folds” the protein into a very VERY specific shape. This VERY specific shape is what allows the protein to do its job in the body. If a protein is “misfolded”, then it can’t do it’s job properly. If a protein can’t do its job, that can cause disease.
Prions are proteins that are not just misfolded, but are misfolded in such a way as to cause other NORMAL proteins to ALSO become misfolded. Think of bringing another magnet next to your very-specifically-folded magnetic chain.
Prions specifically affect proteins that do their job in the brain. Not all animals have prions, but unless the animal is exhibiting signs of disease, we don’t know if they do or not, so best not to risk it. Unlike most food-borne illnesses, prions are NOT destroyed by cooking. Thus it’s safer to just say “don’t eat brains.”
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