Scientists have pinpointed genetic mutations which can cause a mole to become a deadly form of skin cancer. In studies on zebrafish, they showed how a mutation to a gene called BRAF is critical to mole development. And when combined with another gene mutation it can lead to a form of skin cancer called melanoma - cases of which have spiralled in recent years. The study by Children’s Hospital Boston and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is published in Current Biology. Rates of skin cancer are rising faster in England than those for any other type. Between 1991 and 2000, the number of cases of melanoma rose by 64% in men, and 45% in women, according to the Office for National Statistics. Once melanoma has spread to other parts of the body it can be very difficult to treat. Previous studies have indicated that the BRAF gene is mutated in about 75% of melanomas. But its role in causing the cancer was unknown.
