Virus Carries Human Gene Stolen About 100,000 Years Ago, Researchers Say

BC200 is found only in humans and related primates. It was discovered in the late 1980s as an abundant noncoding RNA in human neurons. Although BC200's physiological function is poorly understood, evidence suggests it may be involved in regulating the translation of neuronal messenger RNAs into proteins.

Researchers suspect that BC200 jumped in skin cells because these are the only cells known to be infected by MCV. The gene is also abnormally expressed in some tumors and overexpressed in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease, suggesting its jumping ability could play roles in these diseases.

Cedric Feschotte, a senior author of the study, said he and his colleagues would like to explore whether MCV uses BC200 to manipulate human host cells. They are also interested in better understanding the gene's role in disease, including breast and other types of tumors in which it is abnormally expressed, and whether it jumps in cancer cells and causes mutations.

The New York Times reported the discovery, and Phys.org provided an explanation of BC200's dual nature. Slashdot reader joshuark shared the news.