Subscribe now

Letter: Letters : Mad spuds

Published 10 August 1996

From Tim Stevenson

Bracknell, Berkshire

It has for some time been known that certain vegetable tubers employ a
protein synthesis mechanism based on DNA using the same coding sequence as is
found in the brains of sheep, cows and certain other ruminants. How long will it
be before we are subjected to the “mad potato disease” scare?

Issue no. 2042 published 10 August 1996

Sign up to our weekly newsletter

Receive a weekly dose of discovery in your inbox. We'll also keep you up to date with New Scientist events and special offers.

Sign up
Piano Exit Overlay Banner Mobile Piano Exit Overlay Banner Desktop