Here's how it works:
* Normal prions are found in the brain and other tissues of healthy animals. They have a specific shape and function.
* Abnormal prions have a different shape, which makes them resistant to breakdown. They can bind to normal prions and force them to change shape, creating more abnormal prions.
* This process continues in a chain reaction, causing abnormal prions to accumulate in the brain and other tissues, leading to damage and ultimately death.
The abnormal prion that causes BSE is believed to have originated from scrapie, a similar disease found in sheep. It's thought that cattle contracted BSE by consuming feed contaminated with the scrapie prion.
Key Points:
* Mad cow disease is not caused by a virus or bacteria, but by a misfolded protein.
* It's a fatal neurodegenerative disease.
* There is no cure for mad cow disease.
It's important to note that BSE is extremely rare in humans, but it can be contracted through the consumption of contaminated meat.