The Menace of Prions: Understanding Risks and Mechanisms

This chapter explores the risks associated with prions, particularly in the context of mad cow disease and the unsettling practice of feeding animals their own kind. It emphasizes the resilience of prions, their ability to misfold other proteins, and the significant implications for health, especially in medical environments. The discussion uses analogies to clarify the complex protein interactions and highlights the challenges posed by abnormal protein aggregation.