Does a prion contain DNA or RNA?

Prepare for the PLTW Biomedical Science Test. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question comes with hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

Multiple Choice

Does a prion contain DNA or RNA?

Explanation:
Prions are infectious proteins with no genetic material. They consist only of misfolded prion protein that can convert normal prion proteins in the host into the misfolded form. Because there’s no DNA or RNA to carry or replicate a genome, prions do not contain any nucleic acids. That makes them distinct from viruses, which have DNA or RNA genomes. So the correct idea is that prions do not contain DNA or RNA.

Prions are infectious proteins with no genetic material. They consist only of misfolded prion protein that can convert normal prion proteins in the host into the misfolded form. Because there’s no DNA or RNA to carry or replicate a genome, prions do not contain any nucleic acids. That makes them distinct from viruses, which have DNA or RNA genomes. So the correct idea is that prions do not contain DNA or RNA.

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