An African antelope imported into a British safari park in the 1970s may have
started mad cow disease. Most experts think BSE arose when a prion mutated
spontaneously, or because farmers fed cows remains of sheep infected with
scrapie, a disease similar to BSE. But Roger Morris of Massey University in New
Zealand says BSE may have developed after cattle ate the remains of an African
antelope, which is also susceptible to a disease related to BSE. Morris says his
computer models back the case, although he will not reveal further details until
his report is published in a scientific…
To continue reading, today with our introductory offers
Advertisement
More from New Scientist
Explore the latest news, articles and features
Popular articles
Trending New Scientist articles
1
We've found a mysterious substance on Titan and Pluto
2
A quantum state that lasts forever may finally be within our grasp
3
How I used psychology to come back from the worst year of my life
4
Technology is changing our perspective on nature – at every scale
5
Fully autonomous drones have killed human soldiers for the first time
6
Faecal transplant makes the brains of old mice act young again
7
Has the answer to life's origins been hiding in our cells all along?
8
Brian Eno and Beatie Wolfe discuss their new spacebound album, Liminal
9
Unpicking the genetics of fibromyalgia sheds new light on its causes
10
Cervical cancer deaths have plummeted thanks to HPV vaccine
