These studies showed that samples of C-type BSE (which is a known human pathogen and the cause of vCJD) efficiently converted human PrP, with a codon 129 preference similar to that of vCJD (MM>MV>VV), whereas samples of classical scrapie (which is not thought to be a human pathogen) failed to convert human PrP to a measurable extent. The gene discussed is PRNP; the disease is scrapie.