[Wonder Warthog]

"Prions, which are folded proteins, cause that disease and are not destructible. No one has yet figured out how to destroy the things."

Excuse me, but bullshit. Anybody who knows anything about the laws of chemistry knows that a simple protein folding is a relatively low energy binding. Sufficient heat WILL "de-nature" the protein, as it will ANY protein.

I don't know where this fantasy-land idea comes from, but it's damned bad science.

[PapaBear3625]

Anybody who knows anything about the laws of chemistry knows that a simple protein folding is a relatively low energy binding. Sufficient heat WILL "de-nature" the protein, as it will ANY protein.

Yes, you are correct. What happens is that prions will survive cooking which would destroy normal bacteria (article), but yes if you heat it way beyond the boiling point of water (like in a hot fire), the protein will be destroyed

[SatinDoll]

I worked in the medical library at a hosptial. I found the information in books on CJD - Crutzfedlt Jacobs Disease, caused by folded proteins. Two doctors at the hospital had been in England the previous year and verified that, to their knowledge, the information was correct.