Which main differences are there between viruses and prions ?

Answers:
Viruses are nucleic acid (either DNA or RNA) in a protein sheath. They infect a host cell and use the cells molecular machinery to create new virus particles, which will often kill the host cell.Prions are protein infectious particles. They are generally types of proteins similar to those in the host, but that are folded improperly, and may be encoded from a source of DNA which suffers from a genetic defect which facillitates the improper folding. However, once a prion encounters a protein of the same type that is folded properly, it can cause the protein to re-fold into the improper fashion which makes it a prion. this repeats as a chain reaction, destorying a great number of proteins, and causing damage.Mad Cow disease (bovine spongiform encephalopathy) is the result of a prion, and the reversion of the protein to a prion creates "holes" in the brain--hence the name spongiform. This destruction of the brain causes the damage associated with the disease. A human equivalent exists by the name of Kuru (in Papua New Guinea, where it was first characterized) or called Crutzfeld-Jacobs disease (CJD) by medical experts.

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prions are the smallest microorganisms,smaller then viruses.it,s actually DNA only

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The professor gave a pretty good explanation. Prions are proteins that interact with other proteins, while virii are proetin encapsulated bits of DNA (or RNA) that our cells will read and replicate and make more virii from.Prions are NOT pure DNA; they are pure protein, and they are not organisms; a prion is just a protein.

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