The accumulation of immature myeloid precursor cells and interrupted myeloid and erythroid differentiation in the KW and the infiltration of myeloid precursors into the circulation in Tg(drl:hoxa9;hsp70:meis1) fish are reminiscent to the symptoms of human AML, supporting that Tg(drl:hoxa9;hsp70:meis1) after induction rapidly develops an AML-like malignant myeloid disease in adulthood. Here, MEIS1 is linked to acute myeloid leukemia.