Recently scientists have discovered new genes in various different regions of the genome that affect the risk of breast cancer in women. In a study of the entire genome of over 400 women two different genes were found, one that if one faulty copy is present increases the risk of breast cancer by twelve percent. When this gene, which is found on the third chromosome, is present twice within that genomic region the risk of breast cancer is almost doubled with an increased risk of twenty three percent. (29/3/09 news -Medical.net)

Interestingly the other gene that was found on the seventeenth chromosome decreases the risk of breast cancer. If one faulty gene is present the risk of breast cancer is lowered by four percent and if two faulty genes are present the risk is dramatically lessened by eleven percent.

According to Professor Doug Easton ”These two new genes bring us closer to developing a better test to identify women who are at a high risk of developing breast cancer, but there are still many more pieces of the genetic puzzle to find." (29/3/09 news -Medical.net)


The discovery of these risk altering genes could play major roles later on in research into the prevention of the world’s second most prevalent cancer. (31/3/09 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breast_cancer)

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Author: unknown accessed : 31/3/09 Available (online): http://www.news-medical.net/?id=47508
by Caitlin Merz -s4203918