An excellent introduction, that filled in a few things for me. I became interested in genetics, especially RNA, when my wife Melinda was initially diagnosed with Lynch Syndrome II by Dr. Henry Lynch in 1998. It turns out to be rooted in inherited mutations of mismatch repair genes.

Study of Lynch syndrome has advanced rapidly since 1998. At the time Dr Lynch still relied principally on family history, by which he had demonstrated the reality of genetic predispositions to cancer against the conventional wisdom of the time.

He and his team at his clinic at Creighton University in Omaha were intensely studying the genetic origins then, as well. They cultured Melinda's cell line then and it is still a source of information, now seven years after her death.

This research has advanced widely around the world and with good results today. E.g., https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK1211/

Public awareness of Lynch syndrome and the wider field of hereditary non-polyposis cancers is still insufficient, however. Testing today can identify genetic tendencies before a Lynch-type carcinoma appears.

Again, thank you for your educative articles!