2008 National DNA Day Online Chatroom Transcript
This is just one question from an archive of the National DNA Day Moderated Chat held in April 2008. The NHGRI Director and many genomics experts from across NHGRI took questions from students, teachers and the general public on topics ranging from basic genomic research, to the genetic basis of disease, to ethical questions about genetic privacy.
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Is Acute Myelogenous Leukemia hereditary? Are there any studies indicating that it is?
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Barbara Biesecker, M.S.:
Researching ways to make genetic counseling as effective as possible.
AML is not strictly hereditary. It does not commonly recur in families. Gene mutations may contribute to the cause but most often cancer results from the contribution of many factors, including environmental triggers. Chromosome changes can be seen in cancer cells but they are limited to affected cells and are not seen throughout the body (they are somatic rather than inherited). If you have someone with AML in your family and have concerns about it affecting you or your relatives, you can talk with a genetic counselor about your concerns. |
| Clara Montes de Oca in FL () |
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