Are Protocadherin Gamma Cluster transcripts considered separate genes?

Question

The PDCH@ cluster of genes share exons and are therefore isoforms of each other. However, they are considered separate genes, by both HUGO and Ensembl.

A "gene" is defined as "a locus of co-transcribed exons" (Venter 2001), and this locus clearly fits that definition with no ambiguity. So why are these transcripts considered separate genes?

The question is, why are these transcripts considered separate genes? — thc, Aug 11 '15 at 00:04
Thanks, I slightly modified the question to improve clarity. Feel free to roll back. You may want to add a link to Venter, 2001 too. And transcripts are not genes. — AliceD, Aug 11 '15 at 00:13
Related: http://biology.stackexchange.com/questions/31766/can-intron-become-exon-in-alternative-splicing/ — canadianer, Aug 11 '15 at 03:28

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered Aug 11 '15 at 02:56

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I would say they are considered different genes because each isoform is under the control of its own promoter.

answered Aug 11 '15 at 02:56

canadianer

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Having multiple promoters doesn't mean isoforms are different genes. E.g., http://www.pnas.org/content/97/5/2291.full – thc Aug 12 '15 at 04:21

Are Protocadherin Gamma Cluster transcripts considered separate genes?

1 Answers1