February 1, 2001

7:57 AM

Rethinking Mad Cow DiseaseSo ususually when I see a story about an "amateur scientist" who has an "alternative theory" to some issue, I get all gooshy inside waiting to see what insane theory it is this time, but this guy has what seems to be a very credible alternative explanation for BSE/CJD occurrences and some credible science to back him up.
posted by briank (6 comments total)

Wanna read about it (I just LOVE mad cows) but give me another URL or some search terms so I can find the story elsewhere. The NYT is one of those damaged sites that make you register before you can even look. Thanks.

posted by jfuller at 9:56 AM on February 1, 2001

Here's a link to his testimony before the BSE Inquiry, and this is an interview with him from 1996. Also various links at www.mad-cow.org


posted by briank at 10:17 AM on February 1, 2001

We do know that BSE can be spread by injecting infected brain tissue into a healthy cow, and we know that prion diseases can cross between species the same way. So presumably this organophosphate isn't necessary for BSE to develop.

I suppose it's possible that it might contribute to the onset of BSE. I don't know--it still sounds like quackery to me, but now I'm intrigued.
posted by shylock at 1:43 PM on February 1, 2001

Purdey says we should distance ourselves from ``the men in bow-ties'' who have what he calls a monopoly on thought.

The, uh, men in bow ties? Now there's a sinister image(?)
posted by rodii at 6:44 PM on February 1, 2001

As far as I'm aware, there is no connection between eating beef and Mad Cow disease. Between eating cow brain and MC is a definite possibility, but the whole beef crisis in Europe smells as fishy as the European hysteria over totally-safe GE-food.

Peace,
Kevs
posted by Kevs at 9:22 PM on February 1, 2001

The, uh, men in bow ties? Now there's a sinister image(?)

Never listen to a man in a bow tie. (that was lisa and my favorite line in State and Main, because our western civ prof wears bowties all the time.)
posted by dagnyscott at 6:18 AM on February 2, 2001