Article: Physical effects of heredity: If parents pass on flawed genes, children could suffer.

Byline: Lisa Roberts

ORLANDO, Fla. _ Mike Slabaugh knew there was a good chance his body would eventually turn on him. The Dallas man had watched his mother, aunts and uncles die slowly from a rare stomach cancer. "I always assumed that that would be my fate," he says.

Several years ago, after a cousin died the same way, it was discovered that Slabaugh's generation had inherited the mutated gene that caused the cancer. When he and his 17 remaining cousins had genetic tests, they found that 11 of them had inherited the faulty gene. Because their chances were 75 percent or greater that they would develop cancer, each had his or her stomach surgically ...

Related newspaper, magazine, and journal articles:

 
 
Newsweek Harper's Magazine The Washington Post Chicago Tribune Crain's Chicago Business PRNewswire Pediatric News The Nation Advertising Age The Economist (US) A FREE trial gives you access to over 80 million articles! Access over 6,500 publications with a FREE trial!