Orkney Islands Linked to Higher Breast Cancer Gene Risk

A gene variant that increases the risk of breast and ovarian cancer has been identified in people with Orkney heritage. The BRCA1 V1736A gene variant was found in one in 100 people with grandparents from Orkney, with most of them tracing their family ancestry back to the island of Westray. The variant has also been found in smaller numbers in genetic testing across the UK and the US. The BRCA genes are present in every person, but when a fault occurs in one of them, it can result in DNA damage and lead to cells becoming cancerous.