Thus, using the MLL-AF9 transformation model referenced above, the introduction of this fusion oncoprotein into murine HSCs, which express high levels of Evi1, resulted in the generation of an AML-like disease that retained these high Evi1 expression levels106 and retained epigenetic marks at the MECOM locus that were consistent with those found in HSCs (Figure 3E). Here, MECOM is linked to acute myeloid leukemia.