Scientists in Singapore have discovered that when two genes fuse due to chromosome instability, the resultant gene fusions could come with properties that can lead to gastric cancer. Researchers from the Agency for Science, Technology and Research's (A*Star) Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology and Genome Institute of Singapore found that the fusion of two genes, CLDN18 and ARHGAP26, can cause the destruction of the stomach's surface barrier. This results in gastric acids affecting the stomach tissues, and could cause chronic inflammation - a risk factor for gastric cancer. This image of human stomach cells was taken at a 40x magnification under a fluorescence microscope.