Traits of Prions and Their Effects on Human Beings
Running head: TRAITS OF PRIONS AND THEIR EFFECTS 1
Traits of Prions and
Their Effects on Human Beings
Dennis Wei
Saint Joseph High School
TRAITS OF PRIONS AND THEIR EFFECTS 2
CONTENTS
Abstract 3
Discovery 4
What’s a Prion 5
How Prions Replicate 6
How Prions kill 6
A List of Prion Diseases 7
Human Prion Diseases 7 Animal Prion Diseases 7
About BSE 8
Human Prion Diseases in the United States 8
What is the treatment for prion diseases? 9
The Fatalness of Prions 9
The importance of prion research 9
References 11
TRAITS OF PRIONS AND THEIR EFFECTS 3
Abstract
This paper explores different definitions of prion. Prion is a kind of protein; it doesn’t have any DNA or RNA. It’s different from virus but both of prion and virus can bring to human beings diseases. It’s so difficult to definition prion, because whether prion is a creature is still a controversial question. This paper shows some traits of prion and the differences between normal proteins and prions and some prion diseases that have strong effects on human beings. It also shows the history of the discovery of prion in the 20th century.
Keywords: protein, prion, disease
TRAITS OF PRIONS AND THEIR EFFECTS 4
Traits of Prions and
Their Effects on Human Beings
Prions are proteins that are unique in their ability to reproduce on their own and become infectious (Learn.Genetics™, 2012). Prion diseases affect the nervous system in humans and animals. In people, prion diseases usually caused memory changes, personality changes, a decline in intellectual function (dementia). There is no way to find if people have prion diseases, and these diseases lead to death within a few months to several years.
Discovery
In the 1950s, there was a kind of disease found in the highlands of New Guinea. Most people in a
Traits of Prions and
Their Effects on Human Beings
Dennis Wei
Saint Joseph High School
TRAITS OF PRIONS AND THEIR EFFECTS 2
CONTENTS
Abstract 3
Discovery 4
What’s a Prion 5
How Prions Replicate 6
How Prions kill 6
A List of Prion Diseases 7
Human Prion Diseases 7 Animal Prion Diseases 7
About BSE 8
Human Prion Diseases in the United States 8
What is the treatment for prion diseases? 9
The Fatalness of Prions 9
The importance of prion research 9
References 11
TRAITS OF PRIONS AND THEIR EFFECTS 3
Abstract
This paper explores different definitions of prion. Prion is a kind of protein; it doesn’t have any DNA or RNA. It’s different from virus but both of prion and virus can bring to human beings diseases. It’s so difficult to definition prion, because whether prion is a creature is still a controversial question. This paper shows some traits of prion and the differences between normal proteins and prions and some prion diseases that have strong effects on human beings. It also shows the history of the discovery of prion in the 20th century.
Keywords: protein, prion, disease
TRAITS OF PRIONS AND THEIR EFFECTS 4
Traits of Prions and
Their Effects on Human Beings
Prions are proteins that are unique in their ability to reproduce on their own and become infectious (Learn.Genetics™, 2012). Prion diseases affect the nervous system in humans and animals. In people, prion diseases usually caused memory changes, personality changes, a decline in intellectual function (dementia). There is no way to find if people have prion diseases, and these diseases lead to death within a few months to several years.
Discovery
In the 1950s, there was a kind of disease found in the highlands of New Guinea. Most people in a
References: CDC - Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE). (n.d.). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved May 9, 2013, from http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/bse/ CDC - Prion Diseases. (2010, January 1). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved May 9, 2013, from http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/prions/ Prion disease. (n.d.). Genetics Home Reference. Retrieved May 9, 2013, from http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/prion-disease Prions: On the Trail of Killer Proteins. (n.d.). Learn.Geneticsâ„¢. Retrieved May 9, 2013, from http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/begin/dna/prions/ Prusiner, S. (n.d.). The Prion Diseases. (1995, January) Scientific American. Retrieved May 9, 2013, from mvc.bioweb.dcccd.edu/weblinks/scbsesp.htm Robert C. Holman, Ermias D. Belay, Krista Y. Christensen, Ryan A. Maddox, Arialdi M. Minino, Arianne M. Folkema, Dana L. Haberling, Teresa A. Hammett, Kenneth D. Kochanek, James J. Sejvar, Lawrence B. Schonberger. (2010, January 1). Human Prion Diseases in the United States. PLOS ONE : accelerating the publication of peer-reviewed science. Retrieved May 11, 2013, from http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0008521