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.