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Multiple Choice
Which statement about prions is true?
A
Prions are a type of virus that contain RNA as their genetic material.
B
Prions are harmless proteins found in all living organisms.
C
Prions are infectious proteins that can cause neurodegenerative diseases.
D
Prions are bacteria that can be treated with antibiotics.
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the nature of prions: Prions are not viruses, bacteria, or harmless proteins. They are misfolded proteins that can induce other normal proteins to also misfold.
Recognize the impact of prions: Prions are known to cause neurodegenerative diseases, such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans and Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (mad cow disease) in cattle.
Differentiate prions from other pathogens: Unlike viruses and bacteria, prions do not contain nucleic acids (DNA or RNA) and cannot be treated with antibiotics or antiviral drugs.
Identify the correct statement: Among the given options, the statement that prions are infectious proteins that can cause neurodegenerative diseases is true.
Conclude with the unique characteristics of prions: Prions are unique in that they propagate by transmitting their misfolded protein state to normal variants of the same protein, leading to disease.