Prions – morphing agents of disease

Activities

1. Graphing and extrapolating the incidence of BSE in Britain

2. Distinguishing prions and viruses

3. Relating mad cow disease to aspects of science and society

4. What are the characteristics of a disease-causing agent?

5. Hypothesising why prions are resistant to heat and digestion

6. Describing hypothetical experiments to determine infectiousness

7. What are Australia's quarantine measures for BSE?

8. Animal experimentation – a debate

Other activities

New York Times Learning Network (USA)
Diseases without borders – students use mad cow disease as a starting point to study the spread of disease across geographical boundaries.

Public Broadcasting Service, USA
The brain eater – students consider the challenges of developing public health strategies.

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Page updated December 2009.