Q14

The human PRNP gene codes for the prion protein. Misfolding of this protein may be the result of ingesting tissue that contains misfolded prion protein or a mutation. Accumulation of misfolded prion protein causes serious diseases such as Creutzfeldt– Jakob disease (CJD).
Which of the following statements best classifies CJD?
A. It is both a genetic disease and an infectious disease.
B. It is a genetic disease only, since it is encoded by a gene.
C. It is not an infectious disease because the prion is non-cellular.
D. It is an infectious disease and the normal prion protein is the pathogen.