Ectopic is a word used with a prefix ecto-, meaning “out of”, and the suffix -topic, meaning "place." Ectopic expression is an abnormal gene expression in a cell type, tissue type, or developmental stage in which the gene is not usually expressed.[1][2] The term ectopic expression is predominantly used in studies using metazoans, especially in Drosophila melanogaster for research purposes.
- ^ Cox, Timothy C.; Camci, Esra D.; Vora, Siddharth; Luquetti, Daniela V.; Turner, Eric E. (2014). "The genetics of auricular development and malformation: New findings in model systems driving future directions for microtia research". European Journal of Medical Genetics. 57 (8): 394–401. doi:10.1016/j.ejmg.2014.05.003. PMC 4143470. PMID 24880027.
- ^ Merriam, John R. (2001). "Genes with ectopic expression phenotypes are common, not rare" (PDF). Molecular Cell and Developmental Biology. 84: 130–132.