BRCA1 vs. BRCA2: How the two ‘breast cancer genes’ differ

As genetic testing becomes more advanced — and, in some cases, easy enough to do in your own home — more people have been able to learn whether they carry gene mutations linked to an increase in cancer risk. There are several gene mutations that signal an inherited predisposition to cancer, but among them, mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 have gained particular notoriety.