RE: Prions may hold key to stem cell function

This article confused me in a couple of places. First, I thought prions were misshapen proteins themselves, but this article implies otherwise. Second, but based on that assumption, I can't see the benefit we would derive from having prions in our system generating other prions, compartively virus-like. If my first assumption is incorrect however, this would help to resolve the second problem, as if prions are just a special class of proteins that simply cause other proteins to change shape, I can see how this could be beneficial

The curative properties of stem cells may rely on prions, a new study suggests, the type of protein made infamous by mad cow disease

[Via New Scientist]