Forget the undead: real biological zombies are made of protein
In short: While pop culture focuses on reanimated corpses, a much more unsettling reality exists in biology. This video explores prions, the misfolded proteins that physically dismantle brains and spread through consumption.
Prions represent a unique class of infectious agents. Unlike bacteria or viruses, they are simply proteins that have folded into an incorrect shape. Once these misfolded proteins enter a host, they can cause other healthy proteins to also misfold, leading to progressive brain destruction.
The transmission of prions often occurs through ingestion, making them the closest biological reality to the 'zombie' trope found in fiction.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Prions: The Real Zombie-Makers
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/science-prions-the-real-zombie-makers.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Biology · More in Science · Latest · A–Z · All topics
