<p>I think these definitions still have a degree of subjectivity and I don't think they are mutually exclusive.</p>

<p>Convergent amplification basically means that "similar" cancers/neoplasms have "similar" amplification patterns, i.e. at around the same loci (see <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16751803" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Myllykangas S et al.,2006</a> for an example).</p>

<p>Focal genome amplification is defined as "CNA [copy number alteration] of limited size, frequently enriched for cancer driver genes" (<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167488914003000?via%3Dihub" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Krijgsmanthis et al., 2014</a>).</p>

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2019-12-30T22:04:19.187Z
2019-12-30T22:04:19.187Z
haci
<p>I am working on cancer genomics failed to follow some terms even by googling </p>

<p>What is the difference of <strong><em>focal genome amplifications</em></strong> versus <strong><em>convergent amplification</em></strong> of given region of genome for instance fibroblast growth factors region?</p>

<p>Thank you for any clarification </p>

<genomics><wgs><copy-number>
What does these terms mean?
# What does these terms mean?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-12-30)

I am working on cancer genomics failed to follow some terms even by googling

What is the difference of ***focal genome amplifications*** versus ***convergent amplification*** of given region of genome for instance fibroblast growth factors region?

Thank you for any clarification

**Tags:** genomics, wgs, copy-number

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2019-12-30. Score: 1 | Accepted answer

I think these definitions still have a degree of subjectivity and I don't think they are mutually exclusive.

Convergent amplification basically means that "similar" cancers/neoplasms have "similar" amplification patterns, i.e. at around the same loci (see [Myllykangas S et al.,2006](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16751803) for an example).

Focal genome amplification is defined as "CNA [copy number alteration] of limited size, frequently enriched for cancer driver genes" ([Krijgsmanthis et al., 2014](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167488914003000?via%3Dihub)).


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