All life is coded by DNA - a double stranded helix structure made from four nucleotide bases - adenine (A), thymine (T), cytosine (C), and guanine (G).  The sequence in which A, T, C, and G are strung along the strand of DNA in organisms’ cells ultimately determines the species.

Burton K. Lim, Assistant Curator of Mammalogy, ROM Magazine, Spring 2009, Volume 41, Number 4

HLA is a really pivotal set of genes involved in your capacity to respond to any kind of infection and HLA-DPB1 is involved in the etiology of GPA

Dr. Katherine Siminovitch

(From research funded by VFC, VF, the Erna Baird Memorial Grant & many others, 
including DNA samples donated from thousands of GPA patients) 

There are multiple genes/gene variants involved in GPA and for certain  these are also present in healthy people - one has to have the "right” combination of genes as well as some environmental trigger to get the disease.

Dr. Katherine Siminovitch

(From research funded by VFC, VF, the Erna Baird Memorial Grant & many others, 
including DNA samples donated from thousands of GPA patients) 

There are many voyages in life, until the final destination. Most people will not know the manner or time of their death. Welcomed, a life-threatening disease can become a powerful teacher.   Nikki is a writer of fiction. At work on her novel “WRATH,” she is stricken suddenly with a rare, aggressive, autoimmune disease.  This book chronicles how she comes to embrace illness as a teacher of life.

Nikki Basuk, author.