National Banana Day

Forget about your taxes, today is National Banana Day. Go bananas – it’s in your DNA!

Available at most online bookstores. See www.MendelCat.com for more info. For ages 6 and up.”

KOKOBUNNY -- The Arizona Version of the Easter Bunny

Being a Native Arizonan, I envision the Easter Bunny a little differently. 

 

Originally created in what seems a lifetime ago, when life was a little more carefree (yeah, there’s kind of a double meaning to that), I thought I’d post it just because I think a lot of kids (and a lot of grown-ups) need a whimsical distraction right now. 

 

You can download the coloring page here. 

 

BTW, the Kokobunny typeface was also designed by me. It was a winner years ago in a Chartpak International Typeface Design Competition. It was originally called La Fiesta but might be called "Tijuana" or something else on your system or elsewhere because it was pirated several years ago by a software company and unofficially renamed. (It’s another one of my long stories about life as a professional artist.)

Peas and Q's -- A Hereditary Cancer Resource

Some of my late wife’s relatives knew about a pathogenic BRCA2 mutation in the family for years, but did not share the information until after her advanced-stage cancer diagnosis. It was painfully evident that her relatives' lack of understanding of genetics and genetic inheritance had left them unable to communicate the risk to other relatives.

But I quickly realized that my wife's relatives were not the exception. Many adults have a knowledge gap and communication problem when it comes to genetics and family cancer history. So, being a professional creative with many years of experience producing educational materials, I started creating materials to try and help explain genetic mutations and cancer risk to those unfamiliar with the subject. This resource is just one of those efforts.

Download a free PDF copy at www.genetionary.org. And share it! Please.

You have an astronomical amount of DNA!

 

Genealogy Day is Every Day for Preventing Hereditary Cancer

 

Did you know that genetic mutations that can increase the risk of cancer can be passed down for generations and shared by genetic relatives separated by many degrees? 

Knowing and sharing your family history as well as your family health history can help prevent hereditary cancer.

To learn more about hereditary cancer and to download a free family health history pedigree, go to www.genetionary.org.

A Short True Story about a Long History of Hereditary Cancer

 
Click here to view the slideshow on Genetionary.org.

Often when I try to explain to people how my late wife’s genetic mutation that caused her cancer was passed on to our child, I get a bewildered look. 

When I try to explain that my wife’s devastating family history of cancer and mutation have been traced back centuries, I usually get a look of disbelief. 

When I ask people about their own family cancer history, they often name off several relatives. Then when I ask if anybody in their family has had genetic counseling and testing, the answer is almost invariably “No.”

It’s time to change the way genetics and hereditary cancer are talked about.

Knowing and sharing family health history can be life-saving.

RNA is DNA's Friend (Your Friend Too)

mRNA, miRNA, ctRNA, rRNA and others are small molecules essential for all life. It works with DNA to produce proteins and other tasks.

 

RNA – can’t live without it! Learn more with my book about DNA. It’s available at most online bookstores. See www.MendelCat.com for more info. For ages 6 and up.