Heart disease - the 7.5% solution?

S tatins are in the news again, and not just because of the new PCSK9-based drugs, at least one of which is likely to be approved by the FDA...

CVDmedicineprobabilityrisk estimationstatins

Who, me? I don't believe in single-gene causation! (or do I?). Part IV. Do we need the probabilistic hypothesis?

In the earlier posts in this series on the nature of genetic causation we showed that, while people would routinely say that they don't ...

determinismgeneticsprobability

Who, me? I don't believe in single-gene causation! (or do I?). Part III. Probabilistic multifactor causation--what do we mean?

In the first two posts in this series we've discussed the notion of single-gene causation.  We don't mean the usual issues about gen...

causationprobabilitysingle-gene causation

Who, me? I don't believe in single-gene causation! (or do I?). Part I. What does it mean?

We were told in no uncertain terms the other day that no one believes in single gene causation anymore.  Genetic determinism is passé, and e...

causationprobabilitysingle gene disorders

Breast cancer, and probablities, in the news (again)

Angelina Jolie's New York Times editorial on her decision to have bilateral mastectomies when she tested positive for BRCA1 mutations a...

diseaseprobabilitystatistics

Breast cancer and other unknowns -- between a (probalistic) rock and a (probabilistic) hard place

The  New York Times Magazine  cover story on Sunday was disturbing.  With "Our Feel-Good War on Breast Cancer," Peggy Orenstein, ...

breast cancercausationepistemologyprobability