遗传倾向并不一定意味着命运。如果你的家族史表明你的体内有一种危险的基因,你能被置于高度警惕的监视之下。例如,其母亲患有一种与家族有关的乳腺癌的男子,可能面临患结肠癌和胰腺癌的风险。认识到这一点,应该导致更经常的测试和及早的治疗。以下是能帮助你了解你自己的遗传背景的一些方针: 首先,查阅你的根子。为勾画你的医疗家谱的主要分支,请利用你的家族的最好的口述历史学家。接着,根据医疗档案、验尸报告和死亡证明核对他们的回忆。甚至家族老照片也能提供帮助。米伦斯基记得一个病人的祖母的一张照片,这个祖母下垂的眼睑证实了一种类型的肌肉营养障碍(一种主要的基因)。 Hereditary tendencies do not necessarily mean fate. If your family history shows that you have a dangerous gene in your body, you can be placed under high vigilance. For example, a man whose mother has a family-related breast cancer may be at risk for colon and pancreatic cancer. Recognizing this should lead to more frequent testing and early treatment. Here are some guidelines that can help you understand your own genetic background: First, consult your roots. To outline the main branches of your medical genealogy, use the best oral historians of your family. Then, check their memories on the basis of medical records, autopsy reports and death certificates. Even old family photos can help. Milensky remembers a picture of a patient’s grandmother. The drooping eyelids of the grandmother confirmed a type of muscular dystrophy (a major gene).