Is "Ectopic Expression" too much or too little expression of a gene?

Question

[miaowzai]

I googled "ectopic expression" and the explanations almost are: Ectopic expression is the expression of a gene in a tissue where it is not normally expressed. But I'm a little confused. So is it too much expression of the gene or too little? Or actually both situations are ectopic expression?

Because I ran into a question asking: if Hox6 gene were ectopically expressed in all the somites of a mouse, what would be the predicted phenotype of this mouse? I'm not sure what the question means and I would a appreciate an answer. Thanks!

[GenoMax]

expression of a gene in a tissue where it is not normally expressed

It should not matter what level since the definition is clear.

Questions on Biostars are expected to have some bioinformatics component, which is not the case with this question. It may be closed due to that reason.

Answer 1

[WouterDeCoster]

For example a gene active in the kidney which normally shouldn't be active in the brain might get switched on (regardless the reason) and that expression would be called ectopic, whether it's a lot or just a bit.