Childhood cancers linked to adult cancer genes
A substantial proportion of childhood cancers are caused by mutations in genes that are known to cause cancer in adults, scientists have found...
BioNews
109 articles
BRCA gene cannot be patented, says Australia's High Court
An isolated gene sequence cannot be patented, Australia's highest court has unanimously ruled. It is the latest and final decision in litigation that has lasted over five years...
Book Review: The Story Within - Personal Essays on Genetics and Identity
Over 30 years ago, those who taught clinical genetics to medical students and other health professionals focussed on the triple difficulty of explaining a genetic disease, its inheritance pattern and its scientific basis. Now, there is a growing literature of personal memoirs, wonderfully exemplified by this splendid monograph...
Multigene testing proves useful for breast and ovarian cancer
Researchers have found that tests for multiple breast and ovarian cancer risk genes can be used to inform treatment decisions for women with personal or family history for such cancers...
Genetic screening for breast cancer of women in their 30s urged
Researchers have called for mass screening of women in their 30s to detect cancer-causing mutations...
Startup launches budget BRCA test
A US company has announced a low-cost genetic test for breast cancer...
Angelina Jolie has ovaries and fallopian tubes removed to reduce BRCA risk
In an article in the New York Times, Angelina Jolie has revealed her decision to have her ovaries and fallopian tubes removed, in her on-going battle to reduce her risk of cancer...
The 23andMe experience - a lot of knowledge is of little help?
The 23andMe test and other similar direct-to-consumer genetic tests are likely here to stay. Those in favour see them as a way of engaging the public with science and making it fun, but there are problematic aspects, too...
Challenge to gene patents in the US
On 12 May, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the Public Patent Foundation filed a lawsuit challenging the US government's practice of granting patents on human genes - specifically, the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, which are associated with breast and ovarian cancer. In the last 20 or so years the...