Researchers at Genentech report in a paper published online in advance in Science this week that "loss of the tumor suppressor BAP1 causes myeloid transformation." In mouse, Bap1 gene deletion is lethal, the authors write, but "systemic or hematopoietic-restricted deletion in adults recapitulates features of human myelodysplastic syndrome." Further, the Genentech team presents evidence to suggest that BAP1 loss of function has similar consequences in human.