Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Airborne Prions Prove Lethal In Mouse Studies

Posted by Soulskill on from the denny-crane dept.

sgunhouse writes "Wired has a story up on the lethality of airborne prions. It should be noted that prions (which cause 'mad cow disease' and similar disorders) are not normally airborne, and take a long time to kill the infected animal, but so far are 100% lethal if something else doesn't kill the animal first. So, they are not likely to be useful as a biological weapon (my first thought when reading their headline), but they present another safety precaution to consider."

7 of 116 comments (clear)

  1. In other words by stoolpigeon · · Score: 4, Funny

    pause, and think a moment before you run that cow through the wood chipper.

    --
    It's hard to believe that's how Micronians are made. Why don't we see it right now by having you both kiss one another?
    1. Re:In other words by migla · · Score: 5, Funny

      pause, and think a moment before you run that cow through the wood chipper.

      I have paused to think. And now I can't get this question out of my head: How many cows would a woodchuck chip if a woodchuck would chip cows?

      --
      Some of my favourite people are from th US; Vonnegut, Chomsky, Bill Hicks.
    2. Re:In other words by spazdor · · Score: 4, Funny

      Next week, on Mythbusters.

      --
      DRM: Terminator crops for your mind!
  2. If something else doesn't kill first? by 0100010001010011 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Birth is 100% lethal.

    Well 99.9999% if you count that Jesus guy, Mary and Elisha.

  3. Thanks for the laugh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    "100% lethal if something else doesn't kill the animal first."

      In other news, 100% of people are struck by lightning if they don't die before it happens.

  4. It has an LD50 of 0 by blair1q · · Score: 1, Funny

    There. I told a different joke. A nerdier one. There ought to be a +1 Nerdy mod for that sort of thing here.

  5. Re:100% lethal by WinstonWolfIT · · Score: 3, Funny

    You just described Jerry Springer