You learn from DNA testing that for BRCA1 you have one normal allele and one allele associated with cancer.For BRCA2,you have two alleles associated with cancer.How does this affect your risk for cancer?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Having one normal allele and one mutant allele for BRCA1 and two mutant alleles for BRCA2 increases your risk for cancer, but how much higher depends on other genetic and lifestyle factors. Therefore, the answer is E, which states that your risk is higher than average but depends on other genes you carry and your lifestyle. Option A is incorrect because the presence of mutant alleles does increase your risk. Option B is incorrect because the risk is increased, but not to the point of being certain to get cancer at a very young age. Option C is incorrect because having all mutant alleles would increase the risk even further. Option D is incorrect because having a single mutant allele for BRCA1 is still less of a risk than having one normal allele and one mutant allele.

You Learn from DNA Testing That for BRCA1 You Have