Fusion gene
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
A fusion gene is a hybrid gene formed from two previously separate genes. It can occur as the result of a translocation, interstitial deletion, or chromosomal inversion. The fusion of two genes is often taken as evidence that these genes have related functions[2]. Often, fusion genes are oncogenes; examples include BCR-ABL, FIG-ROS], and TEL-JAK2.
Biologists may also deliberately create fusion genes for research purposes. For example, by creating a fusion gene of a protein of interest and green fluorescent protein, the protein of interest may be observed in cells or tissue using fluorescence microscopy. The protein synthesized when a fusion gene is expressed is called a fusion protein.
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