"C:NETGOSPOOLMAIL" <hjrose at mast.demon.co.uk> wrote:
>I have a question about BSE that perhaps someone could answer. The
>theory is that the scrapie agent has somehow mutated and changed into a
>form that infects cattle and other mammals, such as cats. Cattle
>infected with the BSE agent can start to show symptoms within a couple
>of years. Why then is it that the same mutated scrapie agent is not
>expected to cause symptoms in humans for 20-30 years ?
>>--
>Howard Rose
>>hjrose at mastgrp.com>++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>++++
> I think that the prion-protein that gets "mutated" may not
be present in humans. We have slightly different proteins. I am not
sure, but it sounds right. Anyone else have an idea.
Lets not call this a "mutation," as no DNA or RNA is
involved. How about "reconfigured?"
drosen at inxs.chem.duke.edu
