National Cat Day

A cute little distraction and a little genetics for the day. Take the first letter of three of the four nucleotides, and you can spell the word “cat.” Take a look at the two genomes, and you'll find that over 90% of the DNA in humans and cats is the same.

To quote a few lines from a poem by one of my genetic relatives (7th cousin 1x removed)...

"You should need no interpreter
To understand their character.
You now have learned enough to see
That Cats are much like you and me..."
--from The Ad-Dressing of Cats by T.S. Eliot

Sorry dog people, genomic studies show that Fido and Fifi only share about 82% of their DNA with humans.

By the way, house cats share over 95% of their DNA with big cats.

Treating Cancer and Spooky Tails

Possible use of scorpion venom for cancer treatment? Among the items pictured here is a recently published scientific paper about that subject. Great! I’ll be glad to donate every one of the bark scorpions that make their way into my house weekly if some researcher can use them. If they can help fight the evil of cancer, the short-tempered little arachnids might have some redeeming value.

There’s also a snapshot of a home-invading bark scorpion (actual size: 4 cm) fluorescing under my ultraviolet flashlight. To contrast that image, is my whimsical illustration of the desert denizens for Halloween. But don’t let it fool you. Bark scorpions are not cute and not much fun to have around. And the stings of young bark scorpions can be life-threatening.

As a native Arizonan and nature artist, I have had close encounters with numerous venomous creatures -- rattlesnakes, Gila monsters, tarantulas, and scorpions. Except for the neonate rattler that had a single rattle too little to rattle, every rattlesnake has warned me of its presence, allowing me to avoid being bitten. Gila monsters are actually very charming and docile if you let them alone and don’t do something stupid to annoy them. And tarantulas are harmless if you avoid doing anything to threaten them. But bark scorpions can be stealthy and don’t need much of an excuse to pump venom into you.

A finger of mine recently encountered the business part of a bark scorpion’s tail when I went to place recyclables in my outside container. The scorpion had decided that the inside lip of the container cover was a great place to hide or maybe look for a meal. Fortunately, it was an adult scorpion so I didn't have to go the emergency room. This was the second time I have been stung, so I was aware of all the nasty effects of a sting. However, the sting was still very painful and caused many uncomfortable whole-body sensations for about 36 hours.

Holiday Countdown Pages

Do you or your little ones want to know how many days are left until Halloween or Christmas? Here are two countdown pages for your holidays anticipation. IMHalloween.com & SantaTimes.com

Hereditary Cancer is Preventable

 

Downplaying the risk does not make it any less of a threat to those who may be at risk. 

Germline genetic testing is NOT done on every cancer patient. Nobody knows for sure what the true percentage is. The ONLY message that matters is that hereditary cancer is preventable. That’s why I created this graphic and gave it to CGA IGC to use.

Hereditary Cancer is Preventable, Dammit!

A final thought as National Hereditary Cancer Week draws to a close.

 

Previvor Day

It's Previvor Day. I should have two previvors instead of just one in my family celebrating the day. Nobody should die of a preventable cancer. That’s why I’m a hereditary cancer awareness and prevention advocate.

To learn more about what it means to be a previvor, go to genetionary.org/previvor.html

DNA, Genes, Genetic Mutations, & Hereditary Cancer Simplified

 

Since becoming an advocate, I have encountered far too many people who don’t seem to have a clue about DNA, genes, genetic mutations, and hereditary cancer. Tragically, I'm a hereditary cancer widower because people who should have had a clue (my late wife's relatives and her doctors) didn't have one.

As juvenile as this may appear, it’s actually for grown-ups. I have found in my decades of professional illustrating that the simpler you make the subject when first presenting it the better, no matter the age of your audience.

This is National Hereditary Cancer Week. Let’s start with the basics to get people talking and thinking. Hereditary cancer is preventable!

A PDF booklet of this story can be download at www.genetionary.org/genes