逆 轉錄病毒幫助塑造了基因調控的演變，例如，鼠的VL30-1 RNA可能源于逆轉錄病毒感染。 在這篇綜述中，來自耶魯大學Alan Garen教授討論了VL30-1 RNA調控能力，它能控制多種基因的表達，包括那些參與細胞增殖和癌癥的基因。VL30-1與PSF腫瘤抑制蛋白結合形成復合物，促使腫瘤生長，抑制 PSF和促進癌細胞增殖。VL30-1 RNA可能來自一個有害的基因入侵者，但在進化過程中，它獲得了內源性調控RNA的功能，成為了正常小鼠生存和發展不可或缺的部分。在人體細胞中存在其它 和VL30-1 RNA具有相似的調控功能的RNAs。

Retroviruses have helped shape the evolution of gene regulation, as highlighted by the mouse VL30-1 RNA that probably arose from a retrovirus infection. In a review article, Alan Garen from Yale University discusses the regulatory properties of VL30-1 RNA that control the expression of multiple genes, including those involved in cell proliferation and cancer. VL30-1 forms a complex with a tumor-suppressor protein called PSF that keeps tumor growth in check, inactivating PSF and promoting cell proliferation and cancer. VL30-1 RNA may have derived from a harmful genomic invader, but over evolutionary time it has co-opted the function of an endogenous regulatory RNA and become indispensable for normal mouse development and survival. Other RNAs that have a similar regulatory function as VL30-1 RNA exist in human cell.