Linda and the Prince of Darkness
You all know that a mutated, non-functional BRCA1 gene places a woman at much greater risk
of breast and ovarian cancer.
Right? However, now it appears that you can have a
perfectly fine BRCA gene – and still be at increased risk of breast and/or
ovarian cancer. How? Well, some smart people in Manchester
(England) seem to have shown that BRCA1 is susceptible to epigenetic
silencing. By that is meant that an
epigenetic marker can be attached to the BRCA1 gene that prevents it being “expressed”
– giving rise to a functional protein. How
this occurs is explained, not very clearly, in this blurb
Why something like this should occur is another
question. Perhaps a more important
question.
This blog post share very important and helpful information on BRCA1. I really appreciate your strength and positive attitude. Thanks
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