Human “jumping gene” found active within a virus
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Scientists at Cornell University discovered a human gene, BC200, inside a poxvirus and found it is both a functional gene for brain activity and a “jumping gene” able to move within genomes.
The researchers initially identified BC200 in 2010 while studying transposons, genetic elements known to copy and paste themselves into DNA, but did not publish their findings immediately. They revisited the discovery years later after Cheng Sun brought the gene to Cedric Feschotte’s attention at a conference.
BC200 originated from a transposon millions of years ago and became integrated into the genome of a common primate ancestor around 40 million years ago. The gene has since jumped into the genome of a molluscum contagiosum virus (MCV), a human poxvirus that causes warts, at least twice within the history of modern humans, roughly 100,000 years ago. This is unusual because most transposons become inactive over time, and functional genes typically lose the ability to move.
Researchers note that BC200 is expressed in neurons and may regulate how cells make proteins. The gene also appears at low levels in sperm and eggs, suggesting it could cause genetic changes in future generations. Its abnormal expression in tumors and the brains of Alzheimer’s patients leads scientists to investigate its potential role in these diseases, and whether the virus uses the gene to affect human cells.
