The spectrum of BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations has been characterized in different populations worldwide, with significant variation of the relative contribution of these genes to hereditary cancer between populations and examples of population specific founder mutations (BRCA1: 185delAG, 5382insC, BRCA2:6174delT in Jews, BRCA2: 999del5 in the Icelandic population) [reviewed in [25]]. Here, BRCA1 is linked to hereditary cancer.