Mark Steele Genetic Quotations

This is a terrible disease whose causes have remained unclear and for which no treatment exists, ... Our findings provide convincing support for a genetic basis. But it's more than that -- development of the disease takes a second hit. One such hit is cigarette smoking.

This suggests that while certain genetic factors place an individual at risk of developing pulmonary fibrosis, lung injury substantially contributes to the disease. That finding raises the possibility that an intrinsic inability to repair injured lung tissue may be the fundamental biologic defect that ultimately results in fibrosis and lung collapse.