4: Genetics, cells and cancer

Question 1

Think 4 M’s

Which non-Mendelian mode of inheritance causes cancer?

Answer 1

Mosaicism

Question 2

Most cancer-causing mutations occur (pre-zygote / post-zygote).

Answer 2

post-zygote

Question 3

As they divide, cells acquire ___.

Answer 3

mutations

Question 4

Which process aims to kill faulty cells before they become cancerous?

Answer 4

Apoptosis

Question 5

DNA (damage / repair) encourages the progression of cancer.

Answer 5

damage

Question 6

Which type of substance, which stimulates growth, stimulates the progression of cancer?

Answer 6

Growth factor

Question 7

Which type of gene can, under certain circumstances, turn a normal cell into a cancer cell?

Answer 7

Oncogene

Question 8

Which type of gene can prevent a cell from becoming cancerous?

Answer 8

Tumour suppressor gene

Question 9

What name is given to the increase in number of cells which may, in the future, become cancerous?

Answer 9

Proliferation

Question 10

What are cancer cells good at avoiding?

Answer 10

The immune response

Question 11

At a certain stage of growth, cancer cells obtain their own ___ ___.

Answer 11

vascular supply

Question 12

What is metastasis?

Answer 12

The progression of cancer to new areas of the body

Question 13

print weinberg hallmarks of cancer

Question 14

What are driver mutations?

Answer 14

Mutations which drive cancer progression

Question 15

Why do tumours get so many mutations?

Answer 15

Cancer cells have unstable genomes

Question 16

What is the two hit hypothesis?

Answer 16

Rare inherited cancers work by:

Inheriting a mutation (first hit)

Acquiring another mutation on top of it (second hit)

Question 17

What genes are activated in cancer proliferation?

Answer 17

Oncogenes

Question 18

Cancer can occur when there are mutations in the genes responsible for DNA ___.

Answer 18

repair

Question 19

Cancer is usually (Mendelian / multifactorial).

Answer 19

multifactorial

Question 20

Which cancer does BRCA1 mutations cause?

Answer 20

Breast cancer

Question 21

The BRCA1 gene is involved in DNA ___.

Answer 21

repair

Question 22

Genetics tend to be just one ___ ___ in developing cancer.

Answer 22

risk factor

Question 23

BRCA1 mutation leading to breast cancer is a (Mendelian / multifactorial) disease.

Answer 23

Mendelian

Question 24

What aspects of a history would make you suspect someone had a Mendelian disorder?

Answer 24

Many people affected

Unusual cancers

Young age

Question 25

What should you do if you suspect someone has a Mendelian disorder?

Answer 25

Offer gene testing

Question 26

What would you do if you suspected someone had a multifactorial disease?

Answer 26

Calculate risk

Question 27

Someone with a ___ history of disease is more likely to develop that disease.

Answer 27

family