Prions

Prions are proteins that lack genetic material and are associated with certain diseases in animals and humans. They are able to cause infectious diseases, including Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD), Fatal Familial Insomnia (FFI), and Kuru. Prions appear to be able to replicate by themselves and have a long incubation period, meaning it may take years for symptoms to appear. They are dangerous because they are resistant to treatment and can spread quickly from one organism to another. Prions are studied extensively in medicine and science in order to develop treatments and vaccines for the diseases they cause.