Risk of breast cancer is approximately 1 in 10 in northern European populations, making it the most common cancer in women. Alison Griffies has a strong history of breast cancer, but no known genetic change has been found in her family to explain this pattern. Professor Gareth Evans, a leading expert in breast cancer, describes how genome-wide association studies scan genomes to look for genes that might be associated with the condition. The data from these studies and other research has provided a better understanding of the causes of cancer. It is hoped that this knowledge will be used in the future in prevention programmes for breast cancer and also provide answers for families such as Alison's. Whole genome research projects including biobanks also raise ethical and social issues, discussed in the programme by Professor Michael Reiss from the Institute of Education.

Video Series: Secondary Science
Release Date 2009