Ectopic expression is the expression of a gene in an abnormal place in an organism. This can be caused by a disease, or it can be artificially produced as a way to help determine what the function of that gene is.
Ectopic expression of a gene can be done by introducing a transgene with a modified promoter into the target organism (transient or stable transfection) or by using the Gal4-UAS system. Ectopic expression is used to gain further understanding of the gene's functions.
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“Every production of an artist should be the expression of an adventure of his soul.”
—W. Somerset Maugham (1874–1965)