HYBRIDdb: a database of hybrid genes in the human genome

BACKGROUND: Hybrid genes are candidate risk factors for human tumors by inducing mutation, translocation, inversion, or rearrangement of genes. The occurrence of hybrid genes may also have given rise to new transcripts during hominid evolution. DESCRIPTION: HYBRIDdb is a database of hybrid genes in humans. This system encompasses the bioinformatics analysis of mRNA, EST, cDNA, and genomic DNA sequences in the INDC databases, and can be used to identify hybrid genes. We searched for hybrid genes among the 28,171 genes listed in the NCBI database, and analyzed their structural patterns in the human genome. The 2,344 gene pairs were detected as hybrid forms of transcriptional products. We classified the hybrid genes into two groups: chromosomal-mediated translocation fusion transcripts and transcription-mediated fusion transcripts. CONCLUSION: The HYBRIDdb database will provide genome scientists with insight into potential roles for hybrid genes in human evolution and disease.