Clearly, there remain gaps in our understanding of how germline mutations in BRCA genes contribute towards breast cancer incidence in Malaysia, but given the relatively low yield of deleterious mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 despite a thorough examination of both genes, it might be concluded that germline mutations at these sites are unlikely to contribute to the observed lower age of onset of breast cancer compared to Western series. The gene discussed is BRCA1; the disease is breast carcinoma.