Four new breast cancer genes discovered

In what's being called an "outstanding discovery" researchers recently found four new genes that play a role in the development of breast cancer. But while some genes, like BrCA1 and BrCA2, significantly increase the risk of a women developing the disease, these four genes don't appear to do so and won't affect screening guidelines at this time.

What seems to be more exciting about this study lies not in the discovery, but in the method used. Comparing searching the genome to fishing, researchers said that rather that using "...a rod and line, we have trawled the pool." The method may eventually lead to breakthroughs in the discovery of genes in other diseases like diabetes.

Though genes are one part of the equation, experts are quick to point out that the answer to breast cancer is complex. Diet, lifestyle, and environmental factors all figure in and no one is quite sure to what extent. Whether these four new genes will lead to better screening and more options for women down the road will remain to be seen.