- Position effect
Position effect is the effect on the expression of a
gene when its location in achromosome is changed, often by translocation. This has been well described in "Drosophila" with respect to eye color and is known asposition effect variegation (PEV). [cite journal |author=Weiler K, Wakimoto B |title=Heterochromatin and gene expression in Drosophila |journal=Annu Rev Genet |volume=29 |issue= |pages=577–605 |year= |pmid=8825487 |doi=10.1146/annurev.ge.29.120195.003045]The
phenotype is well characterised by unstable expression of a gene that results in the red eye coloration. In themutant flies the eyes typically have a mottled appearance of white and red sectors. These phenotypes are often due to a chromosomal translocation such that the color gene is now close to a region ofheterochromatin . The heterochromatin can spread stochastically and switch off the color gene resulting in the white eye sectors."Position effect" is also used to describe the variation of expression exhibited by identical
transgene s that insert into different regions of agenome . In this case the difference in expression is often due toenhancer s that regulate neighboring genes. These local enhancers can also effect the expression pattern of the transgene. Since each transgenic organism has the transgene in a different location each transgenic organism has the potential for a unique expression pattern.References
External links
* [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/bv.fcgi?rid=mboc4.figgrp.665 Position effect explained on "Molecular Biology of the Cell"]
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