Mutant gene find raises hopes of those at risk of melanoma

Linda Seaman was 12 when doctors found her first melanoma. She was 29 when they found her second, which was hidden by hair on her scalp.

Melanomas run in Mrs Seaman's family. Her mother and uncle have both had two, and she checks her children incessantly.

Today, researchers report the discovery of a mutant gene, carried by about 200,000 Australians, which increases the risk of developing melanoma by 2½ times.    More Read