Jarle Breivik

Kreft og evolusjon

Kreftutvikling er en evolusjonsprosess inne i den flercellede organismen. Denne forskningen har som mål å utforske og forklare denne prosessen fra et tverrfaglig perspektiv. Et sentralt aspekt gjelder den evolusjonære sammenhengen mellom miljøfaktorer og utviklingen av genetisk ustabilitet i kreftceller. Den vitenskapelige modellen er blitt testet og bekreftet gjennom flere eksperimentelle studier.

Utvalget artikler:

• Don't stop for repairs in a war zone: Darwinian evolution unites genes and environment in cancer development. Breivik, J. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. (2001) 98, 5379-5381.
• Unstable DNA Repair Genes Shaped by Their Own Sequence Modifying Phenotypes. Falster DS, Nakken S, Bergem-Ohr M, Rødland EA and Breivik J. J. Mol. Evo. (2010) 70, 266-274.
• Resolving the evolutionary paradox of genetic instability: a cost-benefit analysis of DNA repair in changing environments. Breivik, J. & Gaudernack, G. FEBS Lett. (2004) 563, 7-12.
• The evolutionary origin of genetic instability in cancer development. Breivik, J.Semin. Cancer Biol. (2005) 15, 51-60.
• Cancer - evolution within. Breivik, J. Int. J. Epidemiol. (2006) 35, 1161-1162.

Populærvitenskapelige artikler om denne forskningen:

• The way we think about cancer must evolve, Wolverton M. Wired (2013) May 22.
• No solution to cancer? Science Daily (2007) April 17.
• Have our genes evolved to turn against us? PhysOrg.com (2007) April 16.
• Evolved for cancer? Zimmer C. Scientific American (2007) 296, 68-74.
• Untangling the roots of cancer Gibbs WW. Scientific American (2003) 289, 56-65.

Immunterapi

Breivik tok doktorgrad i Gustav Gaudernack's forskergruppe knyttet til immunterapi og utvikling av kreftvaksiner:

• Vaccination with mutant ras peptides and induction of T-cell responsiveness in pancreatic carcinoma patients carrying the corresponding RAS mutation. Gjertsen MK, Bakka A, Breivik J, Saeterdal I, Solheim BG, Søreide O, Thorsby E, Gaudernack G. Lancet (1995) 346:1399-400.
• A K-ras 13Gly-->Asp mutation is recognized by HLA-DQ7 restricted T cells in a patient with colorectal cancer. Modifying effect of DQ7 on established cancers harbouring this mutation? Fossum B, Breivik J, Meling GI, Gedde-Dahl T 3rd, Hansen T, Knutsen I, Rognum TO, Thorsby E, Gaudernack G., Int J Cancer. 1994 Aug 15;58(4):506-11.
• K-ras mutation in colorectal cancer: relations to patient age, sex and tumour location. Breivik J, Meling GI, Spurkland A, Rognum TO, Gaudernack G., Br J Cancer. 1994 Feb;69(2):367-71.

Kreft og kommunikasjon

Vitenskap oppfattes generelt sett som den objektive søken etter fakta og sannheter, men hvordan vi forstår vitenskap er i stor grad avhengig av hvordan den kommuniseres. Et gen kan f.eks. presenteres som et molekyl, som noe som bestemmer egenskapene våre, som en risikofaktor for å få en sykdom, eller som en enhet for evolusjon. Kreft kan vinkles som et bioteknologisk problem, som en miljøbetinget sykdom, som en samfunnsøkonomisk utfordring eller som en fiende for menneskeheten. Hver vinkling har ulike implikasjoner for hvordan vi forstår vitenskapen, medisin og helse, og oss selv. Der er derfor viktig å være bevisst på hvordan vi kommuniserer:

• The Nine Cancer Frames: A Tool to Facilitate Critical Reading of Cancer-Related Information, Murray C, von Possel N, Lie HC, Breivik J. J Cancer Educ ( 2021)
• Frame Analysis in Science Education: A Classroom Activity for Promoting Media Literacy and Learning about Genetic Causation. Carver RB, Wiese EF & Breivik J, International Journal of Science Education (2013).
• Quantitative Frame Analysis of How the Gene Concept Is Presented in Tabloid and Elite Newspapers. Carver R, Rødland, EA & Breivik J, Science Communication (2012)
• Frame that gene. Carver R, Waldahl R & Breivik J, EMBO Report (2008)

Evolusjon og kunstig befruktning

Evolusjon er en kontinuerlig prosess, og genen våre er femdeles gjenstand for seleksjon, om enn på andre måter enn tidligere. Her utforsker vi hvordan kunstig befruktning påvirker evolusjonen:

• Can IVF influence human evolution? Hanevik HA, Hessen DO, Sunde A & Breivik J, Human Reproduction (2016)

Education management

God forskning forutsetter god organisering og ledelse av forskerutdanning:

• Leadership and organizational change in biomedical PhD education: An instrumental case study of the development of a centralized organization for biomedical graduate studies at the University of Pennsylvania. Breivik J, Thesis (Ed.D. in Higher Education Management), University of Pennsylvania (2014).
• Evaluation of the medical student research programme in Norwegian medical schools. A survey of students and supervisors. Hunskaar S, Breivik J, Siebke M, Tømmerås K, Figenschau K and Hansen JB. BMC Medical Education (2009).

Selvkopierende maskiner

For å utforske og illustrere livets mest grunnleggende prinsippet, utviklet jeg en fysisk maskin som kopierer seg selv på samme måte som DNA molekyler:

• System which can reversibly reproduce itself. Breivik, J. (2001) US Patent 6,652,285.
• Self-organization of template-replicating polymers and the spontaneous rise of genetic information. Breivik J. Entropy (2001) 3, 273-279.

Magnetisk DNA isolering

Som medisinstudent utvklet jeg en metode for å isolere DNA ved hjelp av magnetiske partikler. Patentet kommersialiseres av Qiagen.

US Patent 6090935, Isolation of nucleic acid.

Publikasjoner, omtaler mm. på norsk:

Gode undervisere får statusløft. Heesch C. Det medisinske fakultet, UiO (2021).

Et system for studentevaluering av forelesninger ved medisinstudiet i Oslo, Breivik J, Tidsskrift for Den norske legeforening (2019).

Valgfrie emner i medisinstudiet, Frich JC, Breivik J, Lundin KEA, Rosvold EO, Os I, Tidsskrift for Den norske legeforening (2017).

Hvem har villedet Trond Mohn? Breivik, J. Tidsskrift for Den norske legeforening (2015).

Sprikende forskerutdanning. Breivik, J. Tidsskrift for Den norske legeforening (2013).

Når Darwin møter Hippokrates - I skjæringspunktet mellom evolusjonsteori og legevitenskap, Breivik, J. i Darwin – Verden ble aldri den same (2009).

Dogmebryteren. Tveito, K. Tidsskrift for Den norske legeforening (2009) 129, 2392-3.

Kreftgåten er uløselig. Aas, H. Apollon (2007) 1, 20-23.

Darwinistisk logikk - provokasjon og ressurs i medisinsk tenkning. Tidsskrift for Den norske legeforening (2002) 122, 2809-11.

• Bache-Mathiesen, Lena Kristin; Moum, Torbjørn; Tyssen, Reidar & Breivik, Jarle (2026). Medical students admitted solely by grade point average show a narrow but highly prosocial personality profile. BMC Medical Education. 26. doi: 10.1186/s12909-026-09929-7. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Background The distribution of students’ personality traits may indicate whether an admission system selects candidates suited to medical practice. While many countries use multi-step selection procedures, Norwegian medical schools admit students based solely on upper-secondary school grade point averages (GPA). We primarily aimed to characterise the personality profiles of medical students at the University of Oslo, and then compare them with previous studies of the Norwegian general population and medical students from systems in countries using alternative admission models. Methods We conducted an observational study of newly admitted medical students, 2022–2026 (mean age = 22.1 years, SD = 4.2; 68% female). Personality was assessed using the Big Five Inventory (BFI; five cohorts, n = 535, response rate (RR) = 89%) and the Myers–Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI; six cohorts, n = 632, RR = 95%). BFI scores were compared with available historical data: general Norwegian workers, German final-year, and French first‑ and third‑year medical students using one‑sample t‑tests. MBTI types were compared with previous studies on U.S. and South Korean medical students and the Norwegian general population using chi-squared tests. Results Norwegian medical students scored significantly higher than Norwegian workers on all BFI dimensions (p < 0.001). They also scored higher in Agreeableness than German final-year and French first- and third-year students (4.33 vs 4.17, 3.80 and 3.60, respectively) and lower in Neuroticism (2.50 vs. 2.85, 3.00 and 3.00; all p < 0.001). Norwegian students’ MBTI personality-type distribution differed significantly from the Norwegian general population and U.S. and South Korean medical students (p < 0.001). Most students were Judging (78%) and Extraverted (70%), with ENFJ the most frequent personality type among women (29%) and ENTJ among men (25%). Conclusions Medical students admitted through the Norwegian GPA-only admission system at UiO demonstrated high Agreeableness and Conscientiousness, with a marked overrepresentation of ENFJ women and ENTJ men. These findings indicate a consistently prosocial and structured, but relatively narrow, personality profile. While this profile includes interpersonal and organisational characteristics that may be relevant to clinical practice, the observed distribution also raises questions about limited diversity in personality type distribution and gender-related patterns in recruitment to medical education.

• Breivik, Jarle & Lie, Hanne Cathrine (2026). Framing analysis as a pedagogical tool for broadening medical students’ understanding of cancer: a course evaluation. BMC Medical Education. 26(1). doi: 10.1186/s12909-026-09851-y. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Background Cancer is a complex phenomenon encompassing a range of cultural and biomedical dimensions. Traditional medical curricula often fail to reflect this complexity, highlighting the need for interdisciplinary approaches that help medical students develop a more integrated understanding of disease by connecting diverse knowledge, patient perspectives, and societal contexts. This study evaluates how framing analysis—a method from communication studies—can be used as a pedagogical tool to broaden medical students’ understanding and critical thinking about complex health issues, using cancer as a key example. Methods We conducted a course evaluation of a two-week elective titled “Cancer Communication” within the University of Oslo’s medical program, offered annually to approximately 20 third-year students. Working in teams, students explored research questions related to cancer communication through lectures, workshops, guided research, and excursions. They learned framing analysis by applying a published tool for examining public cancer discourse. Anonymous pre-course free associations and post-course reflections were analyzed thematically to identify changes in students’ understanding of cancer during the course. Students’ team presentations, orally evaluated as part of the final course examination, supported our assessment of how students applied framing analysis to cancer-related communication topics. Results Students’ initial responses reflected relatively simple and emotionally charged associations with cancer, often centered on fear, death, treatment burden, and familiar cancer stereotypes. Their post-course reflections suggested increased media literacy, critical thinking, and the ability to integrate multiple narratives about cancer. In their final presentations, students applied framing analysis to critically evaluate media portrayals and reflect on how different framings shape public and professional perceptions of disease. The post-course reflections further suggested greater empathy for cancer patients and an increased awareness of social and cultural influences on medical practice. Conclusions Integrating framing analysis into medical education appeared to broaden students’ understanding of cancer as a multidimensional phenomenon, supporting reflective and interdisciplinary thinking and encouraging them to move beyond traditional biomedical perspectives. These findings suggest that framing analysis and similar communication-based approaches may serve as useful pedagogical tools in health professions education to enhance critical reflection.

• Murray, Craig Edward Sørheim; Possel, Nina Von; Lie, Hanne C. & Breivik, Jarle (2021). The Nine Cancer Frames: A Tool to Facilitate Critical Reading of Cancer-Related Information. Journal of Cancer Education. ISSN 0885-8195. s. 1–10. doi: 10.1007/s13187-021-02062-7. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Abstract People’s ability to critically assess cancer-related information is essential from a preventional and therapeutic, as well as a general democratic perspective. Such cancer literacy is not just about acquiring factual knowledge. It also involves the ability to analyze how the information is contextualized—how cancer is framed. Previous research concerning the framing of cancer in public discourse is voluminous and penetrating but also fragmented and inaccessible to non-experts. In this study, we have developed an integrated and applicable tool for analyzing cancer discourse by systematically classifying distinctive ways of framing of the concept of cancer. Building on previous research and an inductive framing analysis of a broad range of public cancer discourse, systematically selected from British and Norwegian newspapers, we have characterized nine cancer frames: the biomedical, the environmental, the epidemiological, the personal, the sociopolitical, the economic, the antagonistic, the alternative, and the symbolic frame. This framing scheme may be applied to analyze cancer-related discourse across a plurality of themes and contexts. We also show how different frames combine to produce more complex messages, thereby revealing underlying patterns, strategies, and conflicts in cancer communication. In conclusion, this analytical tool enables critical reading of cancer-related information and may be especially useful in educational initiatives to advance health communication and public understanding of cancer.

• Stokke, Sunneva; Solberg, Ingeborg Lodden; Grøttum, Per; Lundin, Knut Erik Aslaksen; Heggen, Kristin & Breivik, Jarle (2019). Et system for studentevaluering av forelesninger ved medisinstudiet i Oslo. Tidsskrift for Den norske legeforening (Tidsskriftet). ISSN 0029-2001. 139(11). doi: 10.4045/tidsskr.19.0027. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Hanevik, Hans Ivar; Hessen, Dag Olav; Sunde, Arne & Breivik, Jarle (2016). Can IVF influence human evolution? Human Reproduction. ISSN 0268-1161. 31(7), s. 1397–1402. doi: 10.1093/humrep/dew089. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Breivik, Jarle (2016). Reframing the "Cancer Moonshot". EMBO Reports. ISSN 1469-221X. 17(12). doi: 10.15252/embr.201643467. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  The way people understand cancer is essential to national policy making as well as individuals’ attitude and behavior toward the disease. Earlier this year, therefore, I wrote an Op‐Ed in The New York Times [1] that challenged the rationale of the Obama administration's initiative for a “Cancer Moonshot” [2]. Contrary to the President's call on America to “cure cancer once and for all” (State of the Union Address, 2016), I argued that we cannot treat ourselves out of the cancer epidemic. Cancer is a natural consequence of aging, and the better medical science gets at keeping people alive, the more cancer there will be in the population. Whether I am right or not is open to debate. What is just as interesting, however, is how people reacted to this message.

• Carver, Rebecca Bruu; Rødland, Einar Andreas & Breivik, Jarle (2013). Quantitative Frame Analysis of How the Gene Concept Is Presented in Tabloid and Elite Newspapers. Science communication. ISSN 1075-5470. 35(4 ), s. 449–475. doi: 10.1177/1075547012460525. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Tabloid and elite newspapers differ in journalistic style and address different socioeconomic segments of society. Few studies have systematically investigated how these differences influence science communication, and the issue of genetics is particularly relevant. In this study, we performed a quantitative frame analysis of genetic discourse in 12 national newspapers that address different audiences. We found that tabloid and elite newspapers use different frames when communicating the gene concept. The differences were related to the use of expert writers and choice of topics, and we discuss how framing of the gene concept is related to the newspapers’ editorial profiles.

• Carver, Rebecca Bruu; Wiese, Eline Fatima & Breivik, Jarle (2013). Frame Analysis in Science Education: A Classroom Activity for Promoting Media Literacy and Learning about Genetic Causation. International Journal of Science Education. ISSN 0950-0693. 4(3), s. 211–239. doi: 10.1080/21548455.2013.797128. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Falster, DS; Nakken, S; Bergem-Ohr, M; Rødland, Einar Andreas & Breivik, J (2010). Unstable DNA Repair Genes Shaped by Their Own Sequence Modifying Phenotypes. Journal of Molecular Evolution. ISSN 0022-2844. 70(3), s. 266–274. doi: 10.1007/s00239-010-9328-0. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  The question of whether natural selection favors genetic stability or genetic variability is a fundamental problem in evolutionary biology. Bioinformatic analyses demonstrate that selection favors genetic stability by avoiding unstable nucleotide sequences in protein encoding DNA. Yet, such unstable sequences are maintained in several DNA repair genes, thereby promoting breakdown of repair and destabilizing the genome. Several studies have therefore argued that selection favors genetic variability at the expense of stability. Here we propose a new evolutionary mechanism, with supporting bioinformatic evidence, that resolves this paradox. Combining the concepts of gene-dependent mutation biases and meiotic recombination, we argue that unstable sequences in the DNA mismatch repair (MMR) genes are maintained by their own phenotype. In particular, we predict that human MMR maintains an overrepresentation of mononucleotide repeats (monorepeats) within and around the MMR genes. In support of this hypothesis, we report a 31% excess in monorepeats in 250 kb regions surrounding the seven MMR genes compared to all other RefSeq genes (1.75 vs. 1.34%, P = 0.0047), with a particularly high content in PMS2 (2.41%, P = 0.0047) and MSH6 (2.07%, P = 0.043). Based on a mathematical model of monorepeat frequency, we argue that the proposed mechanism may suffice to explain the observed excess of repeats around MMR genes. Our findings thus indicate that unstable sequences in MMR genes are maintained through evolution by the MMR mechanism. The evolutionary paradox of genetically unstable DNA repair genes may thus be explained by an equilibrium in which the phenotype acts back on its own genotype.

• Hunskaar, Steinar; Breivik, Jarle; Siebke, Else-Marie; Tømmerås, Karin; Figenschau, Kristian & Hansen, John-Bjarne (2009). Evaluation of the medical student research programme in Norwegian medical schools. A survey of students and supervisors. BMC Medical Education. 9(43). doi: 10.1186/1472-6920-9-43. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Background: The Medical Student Research Programme is a national education and grant scheme for medical students who wish to carry out research in parallel with their studies. The purpose of the programme is to increase recruitment of people with a standard medical degree to medical research. The Research Programme was established in 2002 and underwent a thorough evaluation during the spring of 2007. The evaluation should investigate if the programme had fulfilled its objectives of increased recruitment to medical research, in addition to the students' and supervisors' satisfaction of the programme, and unwanted differences between the universities. Methods: Data was collected from students, supervisors and administrative staff via web-based questionnaires. Information about admission, implementation, results achieved and satisfaction was analysed and compared between the four Norwegian medical schools. In addition, the position of the scheme in relation to the national Quality Reform of Higher Education was analysed. Results: At the end of 2006, the Medical Student Research Programme had recruited 265 medical students to research. These consisted of 214 active students, 35 who had completed their studies and only 17 who had dropped out. Both students and supervisors were generally very satisfied with the scheme, including the curriculum, the results achieved and the administrative service. The majority of students wanted to continue their research towards a PhD and, of those who had completed the Medical Student Research Programme, practically all had published one or several scientific papers. The survey showed only small differences between the four medical schools, despite their choice of somewhat different solutions in terms of administration and organisation. The Medical Student Research Programme satisfies the majority of the demands of the Quality Reform, however as an integrated research programme aimed at a PhD it presupposes access to PhD courses before the completion of medical studies, as well as the ability to include undergraduate scientific work in a PhD thesis. Conclusion: The Medical Student Research Programme has led to an increase in the recruitment of graduated physicians to medical research in Norway. It will only be possible to evaluate whether this in turn will result in a larger number of PhDs in 3–5 years; this will also depend on the access to grants and fellowships.

• Carver, Rebecca; Waldahl, Ragnar & Breivik, Jarle (2008). Frame that gene. A tool for analysing and classifying the communication of genetics to the public. EMBO Reports. ISSN 1469-221X. 9(10), s. 943–947. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Breivik, Jarle (2006). Cancer - evolution within. International Journal of Epidemiology. ISSN 0300-5771. 35(5), s. 1161–1162. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Breivik, Jarle (2005). The evolutionary origin of genetic instability in cancer development. Seminars in Cancer Biology. ISSN 1044-579X. 15. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Breivik, Jarle & Gaudernack, Gustav (2004). Resolving the evolutionary paradox of genetic instability: a cost-benefit analysis of DNA repair in changing environments. FEBS Letters. ISSN 0014-5793. 563, s. 7–12. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Breivik, Jarle; Lothe, Ragnhild A; Meling, Gunn Iren; Rognum, Torleiv Ole; Børresen-Dale, Anne-Lise & Gaudernack, Gustav (1997). Different genetic pathways to proximal and distal colorectal cancer influenced by sex related factors. International Journal of Cancer. ISSN 0020-7136. 97, s. 664–669. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Andersen, Solveig Norheim; Løvig, Tone; Breivik, Jarle; Lund, Eiliv; Gaudernack, Gustav & Meling, Gunn Iren [Vis alle 7 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (1997). K-ras mutations and prognosis in large bowel carcinomas. Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology. ISSN 0036-5521. 32, s. 62–69. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Andersen, Solveig Norheim; Breivik, Jarle; Løvig, Tone; Meling, Gunn Iren; Gaudernack, Gustav & Clausen, Ole Petter Fraas [Vis alle 11 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (1996). K-ras mutations and HLA-DR expression in large bowel adenomas. British Journal of Cancer. ISSN 0007-0920. 74, s. 99–108. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Gjertsen, Marianne Klemp; Bakka, Arne; Breivik, Jarle; Sæterdal, Ingvil; jr, Tobias Gedde-Dahl & Stokke, Kjell Torgeir [Vis alle 11 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (1996). Ex vivo ras peptide vaccination in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer: results of a phase I/II study. International Journal of Cancer. ISSN 0020-7136. 65, s. 450–3. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Gjertsen, MK; Bakka, Arne Olav; Breivik, Jarle; Sæterdal, I; Solheim, Bjarte G. & Thorsby, Erik [Vis alle 7 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (1995). Vaccination with mutant ras peptides induces of T-cell responsiveness in pancreatic carcinoma patients carrying the corresponding RAS mutation. The Lancet. ISSN 0140-6736. s. 1399–1400. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv

Se alle arbeider i NVA

• Breivik, Jarle (2023). Making Sense of Cancer: From Its Evolutionary Origin to Its Societal Impact and the Ultimate Solution. River Grove Books. ISBN 9781632997616. 248 s. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Breivik, Jarle (2022). Løsningen på kreftgåten. Pitch forlag. ISBN 9788284340302. 255 s. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv

Se alle arbeider i NVA

• Bache-Mathiesen, Lena Kristin; Tyssen, Reidar; Moum, Torbjørn & Breivik, Jarle (2026). Høyt snitt, lik profil: Medisinstudenter ved UiO viser en snever, men prososial personlighet. doi: https:/www.researchgate.net/publication/417105418_Hoyt_snitt_lik_profil_Medisinstudenter_ved_UiO_viser_en_snever_men_prososial_personlighet. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Innledning --- I Norge er det bare karaktergrenser som avgjør om studenter kommer inn på medisinstudiet. Med et lavt frafall (ca. 10%), er våre fremtidig leger i stor grad et resultat av selvseleksjon. Formålet med denne studien var å kartlegge personlighetstrekkene til medisinstudenter ved UiO og sammenligne de med den norske normalpopulasjonen og medisinstudenter fra andre land. --- Metode --- Vi brukte registerdata på innkommende UiO medisinstudenter fra 2022-2026 (gjennomsnittsalder = 22.1, 68% kvinner). Fem kull fullførte personlighetstesten BFI-20S (n = 535, 89%) og seks MBTI (n = 632, 95%). T-tester sammenlignet BFI-20S med norske arbeidere (n = 6372), franske (n = 1132) og tyske (n = 880) medisinstudenter. Kji-kvadrattest sammenlignet MBTI med normalbefolkning (n = 159468), amerikanske (n = 83) og sør-koreanske (n = 171) medisinstudenter. --- Resultat og konklusjon --- På BFI (1–5) skårte UiO medisinstudenter høyere på vennlighet, gjennomsnitt 4.3 (SA=0.5), og ekstroversjon, 3.7 (0.89) enn franske (3.8, SA = 0.6; 3.1, SA = 0.8) og tyske (4.2, SA = 0.6; 3.6, SA = 0.8) medisinstudenter (p < 0.001). Planmessighet var høyere (4.1, SA = 0.6) enn franske medisinstudenter (3.4, SA = 0.7), men lavere enn tyske (4.2, SA = 0.6). Alle trekk var høyere enn norske arbeidere (p < 0.001). De fleste av medisinstudentene var MBTI ekstroverte (70%), intuitive (59%), følende (66%) og strukturerte (78%). Kombinasjonen ENFJ var overrepresentert sammenlignet med nordmenn (6%) og medisinstudenter fra USA (2%) og Sør-Korea (3%) (p < 0.001). Medisinstudentene ved UiO har høye nivåer med vennlighet og planmessighet, og et enormt antall ENFJ. Selv om disse personlighetstrekkene er regnet som ønskelige for medisinsk praksis, kan den begrensede variasjonen i personlighet påvirke stressmestring og problemløsningsstrategier i helsevesenet. --- Publikasjoner --- Bache-Mathiesen, L.K., Moum, T., Tyssen, R., Breivik, J. Medical students admitted solely by grade point average show a narrow but highly prosocial personality profile. BMC Med Educ (2026). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-026-09929-7 --- Bache-Mathiesen, L.K., Moum, T., Tyssen, R., Breivik, J. Distinct and Narrow Personality Profile of Norwegian Medical Students: Implications of the National Admissions System. The International Association for Health Professions Education (AMEE) conference, Vienna, Austria. (2026). researchgate.net/publication/414086234_Distinct_and_Narrow_Personality_Profile_of_Norwegian_Medical_Students_Implications_of_the_National_Admissions_System

• Bache-Mathiesen, Lena Kristin; Moum, Torbjørn; Tyssen, Reidar & Breivik, Jarle (2026). Distinct and Narrow Personality Profile of Norwegian Medical Students: Implications of the National Admissions System. doi: https:/www.researchgate.net/publication/414086234_Distinct_and_Narrow_Personality_Profile_of_Norwegian_Medical_Students_Implications_of_the_National_Admissions_System. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Background --- Medical school admissions shape the physician workforce. Norway admits students exclusively by GPA. With no selection for suitability and professional attitude, combined with free education and low attrition, the admitted cohorts are largely shaped by who chooses to apply. To explore this effect, we characterised personality traits of medical students at the University of Oslo and compared them with the Norwegian population and published samples from medical schools in other countries. --- Summary of Work --- Newly admitted medical students (2022–2025; mean age 22.1, 67% female) completed the BFI-20S (four cohorts, n=436, 91% response) and the MBTI (five cohorts, n=532, 95% response) personality tests. BFI measured Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Neuroticism, and Openness. One-sample t-tests compared mean scores with Norwegian workers (n=6,372). MBTI classified respondents on four dichotomies combined into 16 personality types. Chi-squared tests compared distributions between U.S. (n=83) and South Korean (n=171) medical students and the Norwegian general population (n=159,468). --- Summary of Results --- On the BFI, Norwegian medical students scored higher on Agreeableness, mean 23.9 (SD=3.0), Conscientiousness, 22.7 (3.6); Extraversion, 20.3 (5.9); Openness, 18.7 (4.7), and Neuroticism, 13.0 (4.8), than general Norwegian workers (22.2, SD=3.4; 20.5, SD=3.6; 19.0 SD=4.8; 17.8 SD=4.7; 12.0, SD=4.5, respectively, p<0.001). Female students reported higher Neuroticism (Pearson’s r=0.2, p<0.001) and Agreeableness (r=0.1, p=0.010) than male students. --- MBTI classified most medical students as Extraverted (69%), Intuitive (58%), Feeling (67%), and Judging (78%). The ENFJ type (Protagonist, 21%) was significantly overrepresented compared with U.S. (2%) and South Korean (3%) medical students, and the Norwegian population (6%) (p<0.001). The most common types among women were ENFJ/ESFJ (27%/14%); among men, ENTJ/INTJ (26%/13%). ---Discussion and Conclusion --- The Norwegian admission system is associated with elevated levels of Conscientiousness and Agreeableness and large overrepresentations of ENFJ/ENTJ. Although these traits and types can be well-suited for medical practice, limited diversity in perspective, leadership styles, and coping strategies might have implications for the composition of the physician workforce and patient care. --- Take-home Message(s) --- The Norwegian GPA-only admission model is associated with a distinct and narrow spectrum of personalities, with potential implications for physician well-being, leadership representation, and personality diversity.

• Bache-Mathiesen, Lena Kristin & Breivik, Jarle (2025). Bruk av standardiserte læringsaktiviteter for å måle samarbeidskompetanse hos førsteårs medisinstudenter. doi: https:/www.researchgate.net/publication/397561644_Bruk_av_standardiserte_laeringsaktiviteter_for_a_male_samarbeidskompetanse_hos_forstears_medisinstudenter. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Gregers, Tone Fredsvik; Langford, Malcolm; Maasø, Arnt; Brevik, Lisbeth M.; Mjaaland, Marius & Mirmotahari, Omid [Vis alle 25 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2025). Utdanningskvalitet: Hva kan vi forvente av UiOs framtidige rektorteam? Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Breivik, Jarle (2024). Et inkluderende medisinsk fakultet. Tidsskrift for Den norske legeforening (Tidsskriftet). ISSN 0029-2001. 144(15), s. 1–6. doi: 10.4045/tidsskr.24.0616. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Bache-Mathiesen, Lena Kristin; Schauber, Stefan & Breivik, Jarle (2024). MonKeyMed – et register for et bedre læringsmiljø. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Bache-Mathiesen, Lena Kristin; Schauber, Stefan & Breivik, Jarle (2024). The missing “I” in “Team”. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Einevoll, Gaute & Breivik, Jarle (2024). #92: Om løsningen på kreftgåten - med Jarle Breivik. [Internet]. Podcast "Vett og vitenskap". Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Breivik, Jarle; Schauber, Stefan & Bache-Mathiesen, Lena Kristin (2024). Kan opplæring i teamarbeid bedre medisinstudenters samarbeidskompetanse, læringsmiljø og akademisk prestasjon? Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Brevik, Lisbeth M.; Reedy, Gabriel; Breivik, Jarle; Thune, Taran Mari & Barreng, Rebecca Linnéa Söderström (2022). Circle U. Café Oslo: Driving pedagogical innovation. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  How can active student engagement in research improve the quality of education? Learn from colleagues at King’s College London and the University of Oslo.

• Breivik, Jarle; Brevik, Lisbeth M.; Funova, Adéla; Steuernagel, Carolina Rau & Sæther, Oline (2022). Studentinvolvering i undervisning og forskning (panelsamtale). Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Øvrelid, Egil; Bygstad, Bendik; Breivik, Jarle; Nerland, Monika Bærøe; Westbye, Hilde & Kjekshus, Lars Erik [Vis alle 7 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2021). Hybridundervisning: Nødvendig nyskapning eller digitalisering på ville veier? Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Begrepet hybridundervising har fått en sentral rolle i diskusjonen om digitalisering av høyere utdanning, spesielt under den pågående pandemien. Hybridundervising kan i videste forstand beskrives som en blanding av ulike undervisningsformer, men kan også tolkes mer spesifikt. Det vil si som undervisningsaktiviteter hvor noen studenter og lærere deltar digitalt, mens andre er fysisk tilstede. Denne utviklingen byr på store teknologiske, pedagogiske, organisatoriske og økonomiske utfordringer. I den videre utviklingen av høyere utdanning vil hybridundervisning være et sentralt tema, hvor digitaliseringsskeptikere og digitaliseringsoptimister står mot hverandre.

• Brevik, Lisbeth M.; Breivik, Jarle & Maasø, Arnt (2021). Hvordan skape et godt læringsmiljø med hybridundervisning? [Internet]. HF:Studio. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Maasø, Arnt; Brevik, Lisbeth M.; Vasbø, Kristin Beate; Breivik, Jarle; Lerheim, Birgitte & Malthe-Sørenssen, Anders [Vis alle 7 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2021). Dette må bli læringsmiljøets år. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Brevik, Lisbeth M.; Breivik, Jarle & Maasø, Arnt (2021). Samtale: Hvordan tilrettelegge for hybrid undervisning. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Brevik, Lisbeth M.; Breivik, Jarle & Maasø, Arnt (2020). Hvordan involvere studenter i forskning? Diskusjon med et utvalg av UiOs meritterte undervisere. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Frich, Jan C; Breivik, Jarle; Lundin, Knut Erik Aslaksen; Rosvold, Elin Olaug & Os, Ingrid (2017). Valgfrie emner i medisinstudiet. 137(20), s. 1–5. doi: 10.4045/tidsskr.17.0549. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Frich, Jan C; Wium, Kristin; Røine, Linda Kristin; Breivik, Jarle; Lundin, Knut Erik Aslaksen & Rosvold, Elin Olaug (2016). Implementing elective courses in the basic Medical curriculum at the University of Oslo. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Breivik, Jarle (2016). Obama og kreft. [Radio]. https://radio.nrk.no/serie/dagsnytt-atten/nmag03000816/13-01. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Breivik, Jarle (2016). We won't cure cancer. s. A21–A21. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Breivik, Jarle (2016). Re: Insulinresistens - kroppens forsvar mot kaloriforgiftning? Tidsskrift for Den norske legeforening (Tidsskriftet). ISSN 0029-2001. 136(14), s. 1185–1185. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Breivik, Jarle (2015). Hvem har villedet Trond Mohn? 135(6), s. 558–560. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Det medisinske fagmiljøet har gjennom flere tiår understøttet myten om at løsningen på «kreftgåten» ligger bak neste sving. Faktum er at dagens kreftepidemi ikke er et problem som moderne medisin er i ferd med å løse – den er et problem vi er i ferd med å skape. Det er derfor nødvendig å formidle en mer realistisk forståelse for kreft og kreftforskning.

• Breivik, Jarle (2015). Hvem har villedet Trond Mohn? :. 135(6), s. 558–560. doi: 10.4045/tidsskr.15.0053. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Breivik, Jarle (2015). J. Breivik svarer. Tidsskrift for Den norske legeforening (Tidsskriftet). ISSN 0029-2001. 135(17), s. 1533–1534. doi: 10.4045/tidsskr.15.0919. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Breivik, Jarle (2015). J. Breivik svarer. Tidsskrift for Den norske legeforening (Tidsskriftet). ISSN 0029-2001. 135(22), s. 2026–2026. doi: 10.4045/tidsskr.15.1197. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Breivik, Jarle (2014). Re: Brysomme studenter. Tidsskrift for Den norske legeforening (Tidsskriftet). ISSN 0029-2001. 134(21), s. 2023–2023. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Breivik, Jarle (2013). Sprikende forskerutdanning. 133(9), s. 617–618. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Carver, Rebecca Bruu; Jorde, Doris; Breivik, Jarle & Klavenes, Eileen Holm (2010). Media Analysis in Biology Class. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Carver, Rebecca Bruu; Klavenes, Eileen Holm & Breivik, Jarle (2010). Genes in the Media. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Carver, Rebecca & Breivik, Jarle (2009). Mediaanalyse i Biologitimen. Naturfag. ISSN 1504-4564. s. 34–37. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Carver, Rebecca Bruu & Breivik, Jarle (2009). Gener i Media og Klasserommet: Genrammer. Naturfag. ISSN 1504-4564. s. 37–37. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Carver, Rebecca; Waldahl, Ragnar & Breivik, Jarle (2008). Frame that gene - A tool for analysing and classifying the communication of genetics to the public. EMBO Reports. ISSN 1469-221X. 9, s. 943–947. doi: 10.1038/embor.2008.176. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Carver, Rebecca & Breivik, Jarle (2008). Frame that gene! How do journalists, scientists and the public talk about genes? Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  No single scientific concept is more fundamental to the understanding of life science than "the gene". As we shall no doubt see during the course of this conference, scientists and philosophers define "a gene" in many different ways, reflecting different perspectives. Likewise, journalists and the public also refer to genes in different ways, often without being aware of the type of meaning they are conveying. This huge variety of meaning can be bewildering, especially when trying to communicate important information connected to genetics. In my talk I shall attempt to make the whole complexity of gene-communication a little clearer; I will draw on the theoretical perspective of framing from sociology and science communication, and show five distinct ways of framing the gene in public discourse: materialistic, deterministic, relativistic, evolutionary and symbolic. These results are from a recently published study of how British and Norwegian newspapers frame the gene concept. Increased awareness of these five "gene frames" among scientists, philopsophers, journalists and the public may make communication about genetics easier, and may thus improve public understanding of life science. I shall discuss some examples of the implications this can have for health communication.

• Breivik, Jarle & Aas, Harald (2007). Kreftgåten er uløselig. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Breivik, Jarle (2005). Repeat protection, cancer suseptability and the evolution of selfish DNA repair genes. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Breivik, Jarle (2005). Whole genome analysis reveals high density of mononucleotide repeats within mismatch repair genes. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  In the absence of mismatch repair (MMR), simple repetitive sequences have increased mutation rates due to ‘slippage’ of the DNA polymerase enzyme during replication. Slippage can lead either to microsatellite expansion or contraction, depending on whether a loop arises on the template or nascent strands. In vivo and in vitro studies, however, indicate a strong bias towards contraction of repeat sequences in MMR deficient lineages, with the opposite observed for MMR proficient lineages, suggesting the MMR machinery preferentially protects against microsatellite contraction. Over evolutionary time and due to continuous shuffling of the gene pool via recombination, microsatellites are therefore expected to accumulate mostly in and around the functional MMR genes. We tested this hypothesis by comparing the density of mononucleotide repeat sequences found within coding and non-coding regions of all major MMR genes to that observed across the entire Homo sapiens genome. Repeat density was calculated as the fraction of nucleotides occurring within repeats longer than a threshold length (7bp). Statistical significance was assessed by comparing observed densities to those in 2000 randomly drawn sequences of equivalent length. All major MMR genes known to cause microsatellite instability (MSH2, MSH3, MSH6, MLH3, PMS2) except MLH1 were found to have significant repeat enrichment within coding or non-coding regions when compared to other genes within the genome. From an evolutionary perspective, these results may be interpreted as molecular adaptation to a MMR proficient intracellular environment which protects against microsatellite contraction.

• Breivik, Jarle (2005). Is there a solution to the cancer problem? Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Breivik, Jarle (2005). Template replication: cancer development to magnetic toys. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Breivik, Jarle (2005). The evolutionary origin of genetic instability in cancer development. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Rise of genetic instability is a key factor in cancer development, and the underlying molecular basis is in principle understood: The unstable cellular phenotypes are caused by genetic and epigenetic deficiencies in mechanisms that maintain the integrity of DNA. A remaining and highly fundamental problem, however, concern the evolutionary origin of genetic instability: Why are the unstable phenotypes selected? Why is genetic instability a favorable trait in the somatic environment? The standard model for carcinogenesis explains this process by a linear pathway in which loss of genetic stability (caretaker genes) leads to loss of growth control (gatekeeper genes). This relationship is well documented and has lead to the apparently obvious conclusion that genetic instability is favored because it provides adaptive mutations. Taking a more fundamental perspective, however, genetic instability should be expected to have a negative effect. Each random mutation may be regarded as an unfavorable bet, and increasing the number of mutations within a cell will not increase the odds for a favorable outcome. On the contrary, basic statistics imply that more mutations will increase the overall probability of cellular breakdown. How then can genetic instability make cells grow faster and produce cancer? Intrigued by a curious relationship between unstable phenotypes and anatomical location of colorectal carcinomas, we have explored genetic instability in a different perspective. Somewhat paradoxically, we have shown that cancer cells lose specific DNA control and repair mechanisms in response to particular mutagenic environments. The underlying evolutionary logic may be expressed by the phrase “Don’t stop for repairs in a war zone”, and we have developed a theoretical and mathematical model that explains rise of unstable phenotypes in terms of costs and benefits of maintaining genome integrity. This model has been tested and confirmed by in vitro and in vivo experiments and has implications for the understanding of genetic instability, cancer development and evolution in general.

• Breivik, Jarle (2014). Leadership and organization change in biomedical PhD education: An instrumental case study of the development of a centralized organization for biomedical graduate studies at the University of Pennsylvania. University of Pennsylvania. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv

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