Know the Peas in your Family Pod -- Degrees of Separation of Genetic Relatives.

Don’t think ancestors separated from you by many degrees could have passed down influential genes? Oh, do I have some true stories for you. But ahead of International Day of Families on May 15th, I’ll skip that (for now) and just post this infographic for anyone interested.

You can download a PDF of the poster here. 

Germline Mutations: Illustrating the Cycle of Hereditary Cancer in Families.

Germline Mutations are genetic changes that are present in genes in sperm or eggs (germ cells) at the time of conception. Some germline mutations in tumor suppressor genes can increase the risk for developing hereditary cancer. 

Genetic testing looks for changes in genes that have been linked to hereditary cancer. These particular inherited genetic changes are called pathogenic germline mutations.

To learn more about germline mutations and to download the infographic, go to genetionary.org.

Do You Know Peas about DNA?

For Deoxyribonucleic Acid Day!

Download a PDF version of this free coloring/activity book at www.markix.net/DNA

A poster for DNA Day and Every Day.

This poster can be downloaded at
www.markix.net/dna-poster

A Short Story about DNA, Genes, Mutations, and Hereditary Cancer Prevention.

You can download a poster at www.genetionary.org/story

Using humor to reduce information avoidance of cancer risk? It actually works. In a 2024 study they used comics and humor to reach people who otherwise avoid colorectal cancer or other health messaging.*

Trust me, as a hereditary cancer advocate, I’d love to be sharing scorched-earth, profanity-filled rants about how my wife died horribly and needlessly of a cancer that was very, very preventable. But I have found that using a simple, lighthearted approach can garner more attention that a more serious, fact-heavy one. Or an angry one.

Anything related to cancer can be very scary. And, unfortunately, a lot people simply don’t understand basic genetics. To make things worse, these topics are often presented in ways that are too complicated and detached for many to understand. The way genetics and hereditary cancer are talked about desperately needs to change.

With DNA Day coming up on the April 25th, I figured this would be a good time to share this reworked and updated version of this simple and lighthearted introduction to DNA and its relationship to hereditary cancer. Please pass it along if you know of someone or some family that needs to see it.

*Reducing Information Avoidance: The effectiveness of humour, cute animals and coping messages from The British Psychological Society
https://bpspsychub.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bjhp.12748 

National Banana Day

Forget about your taxes, today is National Banana Day. Go bananas – it’s in your DNA!

Available at most online bookstores. See www.MendelCat.com for more info. For ages 6 and up.”

KOKOBUNNY -- The Arizona Version of the Easter Bunny

Being a Native Arizonan, I envision the Easter Bunny a little differently. 

 

Originally created in what seems a lifetime ago, when life was a little more carefree (yeah, there’s kind of a double meaning to that), I thought I’d post it just because I think a lot of kids (and a lot of grown-ups) need a whimsical distraction right now. 

 

You can download the coloring page here. 

 

BTW, the Kokobunny typeface was also designed by me. It was a winner years ago in a Chartpak International Typeface Design Competition. It was originally called La Fiesta but might be called "Tijuana" or something else on your system or elsewhere because it was pirated several years ago by a software company and unofficially renamed. (It’s another one of my long stories about life as a professional artist.)

Peas and Q's -- A Hereditary Cancer Resource

Some of my late wife’s relatives knew about a pathogenic BRCA2 mutation in the family for years, but did not share the information until after her advanced-stage cancer diagnosis. It was painfully evident that her relatives' lack of understanding of genetics and genetic inheritance had left them unable to communicate the risk to other relatives.

But I quickly realized that my wife's relatives were not the exception. Many adults have a knowledge gap and communication problem when it comes to genetics and family cancer history. So, being a professional creative with many years of experience producing educational materials, I started creating materials to try and help explain genetic mutations and cancer risk to those unfamiliar with the subject. This resource is just one of those efforts.

Download a free PDF copy at www.genetionary.org. And share it! Please.

You have an astronomical amount of DNA!

 

Genealogy Day is Every Day for Preventing Hereditary Cancer

 

Did you know that genetic mutations that can increase the risk of cancer can be passed down for generations and shared by genetic relatives separated by many degrees? 

Knowing and sharing your family history as well as your family health history can help prevent hereditary cancer.

To learn more about hereditary cancer and to download a free family health history pedigree, go to www.genetionary.org.

A Short True Story about a Long History of Hereditary Cancer

 
Click here to view the slideshow on Genetionary.org.

Often when I try to explain to people how my late wife’s genetic mutation that caused her cancer was passed on to our child, I get a bewildered look. 

When I try to explain that my wife’s devastating family history of cancer and mutation have been traced back centuries, I usually get a look of disbelief. 

When I ask people about their own family cancer history, they often name off several relatives. Then when I ask if anybody in their family has had genetic counseling and testing, the answer is almost invariably “No.”

It’s time to change the way genetics and hereditary cancer are talked about.

Knowing and sharing family health history can be life-saving.

RNA is DNA's Friend (Your Friend Too)

mRNA, miRNA, ctRNA, rRNA and others are small molecules essential for all life. It works with DNA to produce proteins and other tasks.

 

RNA – can’t live without it! Learn more with my book about DNA. It’s available at most online bookstores. See www.MendelCat.com for more info. For ages 6 and up. 

The Monk and the Pea: The Roots of Genetics

 

From PEAS to DNA? 

Learn the connection and some other fascinating facts in this activity book. It’s a free download for ages 8 and up at www.MARKiX.net/DNA 

World Cancer Day '26

Last week I lost another friend to cancer. EVERYBODY I know has been touch by cancer in one way or another, yet there are subhumans out there cutting access to care and research funding. Demand better screening, care, and research! Not just today, but every day!

Open Letter to Politicians on World Cancer Day

 

And this🖕is for the small-minded politician that wouldn’t advance out of committee a hereditary cancer screening bill I fought to get passed for three years.

The Skinny on Melanin

 The poster can be downloaded at

www.MendelCat.com/melanin

Do You Know Peas and Q's about Genes and Hereditary Cancer?

As a hereditary cancer widower, advocate, and parent of a previvor, I know genetic knowledge and genetic testing can save lives. Being a professional creative with decades of experience producing educational materials, I created this primer about genetics and hereditary cancer to help raise awareness. It’s my attempt to try and make an extremely complex subject a little easier to grasp for anyone interested.

A PDF version can be downloaded at www.genetionary.org. A professionally published edition is also available gratis on a limited basis.

When I was my late wife's hereditary cancer caregiver, I often found myself trying to explain to others about her diagnosis, how her cancer could have been prevented had her family shared info, and how our adult child ended up with the exact same BRCA2 mutation as her mother. But I quickly realized that many people lack a basic understanding of genetics, genetic inheritance, and cancer. So, being a professional illustrator with decades of experience creating educational materials, I started drawing pictures to help explain it.

I felt the hereditary cancer infographics I had created should to be openly shared. So I created Genetionary.org, an ad-free site with a simple genetic mutation glossary, my infographics, and materials for sharing family health/cancer history. My goal is to help raise more awareness about hereditary cancer and to help encourage families to communicate about health history. Especially if that history involves cancer.

For more detailed information about genetic mutations, or if you have questions about your own hereditary cancer risk, please talk to your doctor and/or a certified genetic counselor.

Your DNA and the World

There’s a tiny thin thread that connects us all.

Mendel G. Cat’s DNA book has more info. For ages 6 and up. www.MendelCat.com