These risk factors primarily include genetic factors (e.g., gene mutations in B-raf proto-oncogene serine/threonine kinase (BRAF), rat sarcoma (RAS) gene family, family history of thyroid cancer), demographic factors (e.g., higher incidence in females, white and Asian populations), and lifestyle habits (e.g., obesity, abnormal iodine intake, history of radiation exposure, stress) (27, 28). The gene discussed is BRAF; the disease is thyroid cancer.