Interestingly, the structure of the β2-α2 loop, encompassing residues 165–175 (codons 168–178 in reindeer PRNP), has been shown to be important for interspecies transmission of prion disease in mice models [35] and the rigidity of the β2-α2 loop, common to cervids [36], at least partly explains the efficient transmission of CWD between cervid species [37]. The gene discussed is PRNP; the disease is prion disease.