Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is an infectious prion mediated disorder in deer and elk and is spreading rapidly throughout the United States. Prions have been detected in fecal material from infected individuals. Some researchers have hypothesized that these infectious prion particles can be uptaken and incorporated into plant material, such as grasses, and then consumed by other herbivores. 1. What is a prion? Can prions be described as viruses? Why or why not? Explain briefly how prions are thought to replicate. 2. Is the hypothesis that prions could be uptaken by plants reasonable? Why or why not? .