It is worth noting that a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) variant GFI1-S36N, present in ~5% of the Caucasian population, resulting in an elevated rapidity in the evolution of myelodysplastic syndrome to become AML, is associated with reduced epigenetic control at the Hoxa9 locus in a mouse leukemia model. The gene discussed is HOXA9; the disease is myelodysplastic syndrome.