Case Study

Describe what is covered in the US Patent 5654155 and justified whether companies should be permitted to patent gene sequences.

Identify a gene, other than BRCA1 (breast cancer 1, early onset), that increases the risk of developing breast cancer when mutant. In addition, describe the process or mechanism that the mutation of your chosen gene disrupts.

Explain how alternate splicing can complicate the study of mutations in the BRCA1. Also, compare and describe hereditary germline cancers such as those caused by BRCA1 mutations and cancers that result from two somatic mutations in the same gene in the same cell.

Explain how mutations in the same gene can cause different types of cancers.