Quote:
Originally Posted by Paul Markham
It's also hereditary.
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Yes, that's because we inherit those start codons along with the rest of our DNA from our parents.
Without getting too technical (too late), lets say the start codon has to be ABC, where each base pair can be A B C or D. If one of your parents had a start codon which you inherited of ABD you both are just one base pair mutation from getting cancer. Remember, the oncogenes and start codons are in EVERY CELL OF YOUR BODY so while the incidence of point mutations is statistically very low, they occur fairly regularly when you consider the total length of your DNA molecules, how many cells are in your body, and the rate of cell division. While a point mutation in one cell may occur in that start codon and turn it to BBD - thus further away from being an active oncogene, that is just one cell. The rest of the cells in your body will still contain the ABD start codon and thus remain at increased risk of being changed for the worse.
Above I see a lot of mention of diets and supplements such as Flaxseed oil - usually those involve antioxidants. Antioxidants remove free radicals, which cause an increased incidence of point mutations. While supplements are an option, a well balanced diet is preferable as mega-doses from vitamins and minerals can have their own complications.