BRCA Gene

In News 

• Recently, the importance of BRCA gene testing was highlighted for reducing cancer risk in women.

About 

• The BRCA gene test is a blood test that uses DNA analysis to identify harmful changes (mutations) in either one of the two breast cancer susceptibility genes — BRCA1 (BReast CAncer gene 1) and BRCA2 (BReast CAncer gene 2).
  • People who inherit mutations in these genes are at an increased risk of developing breast cancer and ovarian cancer compared with the general population.
• They produce proteins that help repair damaged DNA. 
  • They are associated with breast tissues that help repair damaged DNA or destroy cells if the damaged DNA cannot be repaired. 
• They are important to fighting cancer. 
• They are tumour suppressor genes. When they work normally, these genes help keep breast, ovarian, and other types of cells from growing and dividing too rapidly or in an uncontrolled way.
• Everyone has two copies of each of these genes—one copy inherited from each parent. 

Source: IE