Prion mutation yields disease marked by diarrhea
Rare ailment starts in adulthood, attacking gut before brain
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.sciencenews.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/ns_novelpriondisease_fig1.png?fit=860%2C460&ssl=1)
FAMILY PEDIGREE This diagram shows five generations of an extended family beset by a novel genetic mutation that results in misfolded prion proteins and disease. On this chart, black denotes a person who inherited the mutation. White is someone who didn't. Women are circles and men are squares. A deceased person is lined out, and age at the time of death is noted.
Mead et al/NEJM 2013