Scientists Map Entire Genetic Code for Two Cancers

Scientists at the International Cancer Genome Consortium assert that they have genetically decoded lung and skin cancer. This will allow the development of drugs that specifically attack cancer at the genetic level because it will be possible to determine precisely which mutations cause certain cancers:

The scientists found the DNA code for a skin cancer called melanoma contained more than 30,000 errors almost entirely caused by too much sun exposure.

The lung cancer DNA code had more than 23,000 errors largely triggered by cigarette smoke exposure.

From this, the experts estimate a typical smoker acquires one new mutation for every 15 cigarettes they smoke.

Link via Popular Science | Image: US Department of Health and Human Services