Patent ID: 8352194

Claim:
A method of identifying fusion genes, comprising the steps of: generating a chromosomal rearrangement assay algorithm, further comprising the steps: providing a set of DNA segments involved in fusion events by cytogenetic analysis of chromosomes; assessing the correlation of the DNA segments genomics characteristics to the fusion event, further comprising the steps of: calculating the probability the DNA segments are within the top conservation peaks of the DNA region; comparing the observed size of the DNA segments to the probability the DNA segments are within the top conservation peaks; selecting a DNA, generating cDNA from mRNA, or selecting a mRNA comprising a potential fusion gene; segmenting a region of the DNA, cDNA, or mRNA containing the possible fusion gene; subjecting the region of DNA to the assay algorithm, wherein the assay algorithm ranks the region of DNA based on size, evolutionary conservation within a predetermined group of animals, or based on size and evolutionary conservation within a predetermined group of animals; selecting the fusion genes having the largest size, the highest evolutionary conservation score, or the largest size and highest evolutionary conservation score; selecting PCR primers complementary to the most conserved genes or gene products for a first chromosome, the largest genes or gene products in a DNA segment for a first chromosome, or the genes or gene products having a combined largest size and highest evolutionary conservation score for a first chromosome; selecting PCR primers complementary to the most conserved genes or gene products, for a second chromosome, the largest genes or gene products in a DNA segment for a second chromosome, or the genes or gene products having a combined largest size and highest evolutionary conservation score for a second chromosome; and combining the PCR primers complementary to the selected genes or gene products for the first chromosome with the PCR primers complementary to the selected genes or gene products for the second chromosome; wherein the combined primers identify fusion genes.