Gene cluster

Gene clusters are groups of two or more genes that belong to the same gene family, in most cases directly in the genome are nearby one behind the other and are separated only by different amounts of non-coding DNA.

Examples are the Hox genes of the HLA gene complex to the human leukocyte antigen and the gene for the immunoglobulin.

Distinction between

If functionally related genes are located on the same chromosome, one speaks therefore of gene clusters. Frequently functionally associated genes are located on different chromosomes but which are then referred to as a multi - gene family. The term gene cluster is used fachsprachlich often as the term gene complex ( engl. gene complex).