A Human Brain Gene Jumped Into a Poxvirus While Staying Mobile

Researchers from Cornell, Capital Normal University and UT Arlington described BC200: it serves a role in human neurons while still copying itself into new genome locations. Two copies were found in the molluscum contagiosum virus genome, and the gene is abnormally active in breast cancer and Alzheimer's brains.

• BC200 combines gene function with transposon mobility — a first in humans
• Two BC200 copies were found in the molluscum contagiosum virus genome
• The gene is abnormally active in breast cancer and elevated in Alzheimer's brains
• Transposons make up about half of human DNA, but few remain mobile