Gene Hunt

“Between 200 and 225 years ago, someone or several someones from the British Isles had a gene mutation that caused lung cancer. They traveled to America, settled in Southern Appalachia and transmitted the cancer gene to their descendants and their descendants’ descendants. Today that lung cancer gene, known as EGFR T790M, is found largely in residents of the United States and mostly in Southern Appalachia, especially Tennessee and Alabama. It makes lung cancer 62 times as likely in those who have never smoked and 10 times as likely in smokers.” Gina Kolata in the NYT (Gift Article) with a really interesting study, and what its findings might mean moving forward. This Rare Gene Drastically Raises Lung Cancer Risk in People Who Never Smoked. (Reminder: Science is important.)