Such mutations can be inherited and may cause predisposition to cancer syndromes, including ataxia-telangiectasia (ATM) [20], breast and ovarian cancer (BRCA2) [21], Lynch syndrome (MSH2) [22] and familial adenomatous polyposis (APC) (ref. [6] and this study). The gene discussed is BRCA2; the disease is ovarian carcinoma.