BRCA Genes Cause Increased Fertility

[Becky]

I found this very interesting as there is always a reason for a founder gene mutation (such as the BRCA genes). This article proposes that these genes arose from our Hunter/Gatherer days when having too many children could be a bad thing - more mouths to feed and that the women couldn't gather as much when pregnant or having a very young child. It proposes these genes arose to counteract genes that regulated fertility in order to boost it. It also explains why the genes aren't more prevalent in modern day society.

http://www.hopkinsbreastcenter.org/artemis/201206/16.html