Cutaneous melanomas frequently harbour activating mutations in BRAF (~50%)7 or NRAS (~20%), as well as mutations in NF1. 8–11BRAF, NRAS and NF1 mutations lead to activation of the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase pathway.9, 12, 13 Based on these findings, a genetic classification of cutaneous melanomas has been proposed distinguishing four genetic groups: BRAF-mutated, RAS-mutated, NF1-mutated or triple wild type.11 The gene discussed is BRAF; the disease is cutaneous melanoma.