Mice transplanted with the CSF2RB− IL1RL1+ KIT+ cells showed the shortest average life span and highest penetrance of leukemia development with statistically significant differences in survival as compared to mice transplanted with CSF2RB−, IL1RL1−, KIT+/−, or CSF2RB+ cells at the 10,000 cell dose. The gene discussed is KIT; the disease is leukemia.