Submitted by StressfulRiceball t3_123132x in askscience
PHealthy t1_jdumo4v wrote
Prions only affect mammals. Cows also don't partake in cannibalism, we grind up cattle into protein powder and mix it into cow feed as a supplement. All mammals can get sporadic cases so there are laws about feeding animals to their same species because while rare, there's a risk.
GeriatricHydralisk t1_jduviua wrote
Why would prions only affect mamnals? Something about high body temperatures?
PHealthy t1_jduwtag wrote
We don't really know, a lot of mammals are also highly resistant to prions so it's thought it's an issue of susceptibility.
GeriatricHydralisk t1_jdvilbz wrote
Did some googling, and it looks like only mammals have the specific protein sequence needed: https://www.cell.com/trends/biochemical-sciences/fulltext/S0968-0004(07)00060-6
[deleted] t1_jdvpkfs wrote
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