BMJ  2008;336:586-587 (15 March), doi:10.1136/bmj.39512.672743.94

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The gene detective

Rebecca Coombes, freelance journalist

1 London

rcoombes@bmj.com

Howard Cedar got sucked into genetics research when it was still in its infancy. He talks to Rebecca Coombes about the breathtaking progress in cancer diagnosis and treatment and current barriers to further advances

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Despite his emigration to Israel more than 30 years ago, Howard Cedar’s voice betrays his New York roots. A senior figure in genetics research, the Hebrew University professor is well placed to give a snapshot of current progress in this complex field, especially its application to cancer. He was an early pioneer in molecular biology, which "started a new era in medicine," he says. Instead of looking just at symptoms, molecular biology delves into the functions of the body and discovers the basis of disease.

Learning how genes are regulated has been long, slow work, and only now, after 25 years, is Cedar seeing the practical application of what he has been studying. Today, he talks about the "unbelievable" pace of genetic research. He is absolutely clear about the direction of travel for basic research to uncover the causes of disease but is frank about the "road blocks" in the . . . [Full text of this article]

Ideal research setting


Genetics and cancer


Prevention



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Ashkenazi Gene Pool
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bmj.com, 17 Mar 2008 [Full text]

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