2009 National DNA Day Online Chatroom Transcript

This is just one question from an archive of the National DNA Day Moderated Chat held in April 2009. 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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Will the mutation of DNA help find the cure for caner? Has it already been tried?
     Nisha Isaac, M.S., C.G.C.: Nisha Isaac is a board certified genetic counselor who is especially interested in cultural diversity and facilitating the availability and access of genetic services to all populations. Nisha has broad clinical and research experience that includes prenatal, pediatric, research and cancer genetics. Currently, Nisha is providing cancer genetic services at both St. Agnes Hospital and St. Josephs Cancer Institure in the Baltimore area. Unfortunately, cancer is not necessarily caused by only one mutation. for instance, there are about 1900 different mutations within the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes that can cause an increased risk for breast cancer (and other cancers). It is definitely helpful for us to understand the cause of cancer so that we can better treat it or try and prevent it. But understanding the cause and knowing the mutation doesn't mean that we will definitely find a cure for the cancer. There is a lot of research being done on finding cures for cancer (especially in terms of developing vaccines) but nothing has been found to work completely.
Florida High School in FL (10th grade student)

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