BLM and hereditary disease: Mutations in the genes of three human RecQ family members are linked to defined genetic disorders associated with genomic instability, cancer predisposition and features of premature ageing; namely, Bloom's syndrome (BLM gene mutations), Werner's syndrome (WRN gene mutations), and Rothmund-Thomson syndrome (RTS), RAPADILINO and Baller-Gerold syndrome (all caused by mutation of RECQ4) [4-8].