Question

Select the incorrect statement with respect to prions.

• A. They consist of abnormally folded proteins
• B. They can cause degeneration of neural tissues
• C. They are devoid of nucleic acids
• D. They cause diseases such as potato spindle tuber disease in plants

Answer 1

The correct option is D They cause diseases such as potato spindle tuber disease in plants

Prions are infectious proteinaceous particles without any association with nucleic acids. They are abnormally folded proteins that accumulate in the nervous tissue and cause its degeneration. They can lead to life-threatening neurological diseases such as Creutzfeldt Jacob disease (a neurodegenerative disease in humans), scrapie disease of sheep, bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE or mad cow disease), etc.

Potato spindle tuber disease is caused by viroids. In this disease, the potato tubers deform into spindle shape.