THE MOLECULAR BASIS OF INHERITANCE
VIRUSES AND PRIONS
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Question
[CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
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false
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true
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Detailed explanation-1: -So, the correct answer is ‘Protein only’.
Detailed explanation-2: -It was speculated that unlike viruses or bacteria, prions were composed solely of protein and were capable of replicating in the absence of any nucleic acids.
Detailed explanation-3: -Prions, like all proteins, are composed of long chains of amino acids linked together. They exist in two forms. The first, PrPc, is found in abundance in nerve cells. Its exact function is unknown but it is thought to be innocuous.
Detailed explanation-4: -No DNA or RNA. Prions are just misfolded proteins but they are capable of spreading, causing disease, and evolving. Prions spread disease a little like zombies. The prions themselves are misfolded proteins, and when they come into contact with correctly folded versions of the protein they cause them to misfold as well.
Detailed explanation-5: -Which is true about prions?-They are naked pieces of RNA.