Martijn Huynen wrote:
>
> There is one fundamental difference between prions and viruses.
> The latter evolve and adapt, whereas the former (as far as I
> understand) do not.
> This would make viruses more alife than prions.
>
But at the same prions must evolve in a sense - mutations
in the host protein might make the prion conformation unstable, thus acting
as a lethal mutation for the prion. At the same time, another mutation might
compensate for the first change, and restore the possibility of adopting the
prion conformation. Thus the ability to carry the "information parasite"
is a product of the evolutionary process. Of course that is not the same
thing as the prion "itself" adapting, since information needs a carrier
if it is to undergo transformation.
Randy
All opinions expressed here are mine, not my employer's
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