4: Genetics, cells and cancer Flashcards
Think 4 M’s
Which non-Mendelian mode of inheritance causes cancer?
Mosaicism
Most cancer-causing mutations occur (pre-zygote / post-zygote).
post-zygote
As they divide, cells acquire ___.
mutations
Which process aims to kill faulty cells before they become cancerous?
Apoptosis
DNA (damage / repair) encourages the progression of cancer.
damage
Which type of substance, which stimulates growth, stimulates the progression of cancer?
Growth factor
Which type of gene can, under certain circumstances, turn a normal cell into a cancer cell?
Oncogene
Which type of gene can prevent a cell from becoming cancerous?
Tumour suppressor gene
What name is given to the increase in number of cells which may, in the future, become cancerous?
Proliferation
What are cancer cells good at avoiding?
The immune response
At a certain stage of growth, cancer cells obtain their own ___ ___.
vascular supply
What is metastasis?
The progression of cancer to new areas of the body
print weinberg hallmarks of cancer
What are driver mutations?
Mutations which drive cancer progression
Why do tumours get so many mutations?
Cancer cells have unstable genomes
What is the two hit hypothesis?
Rare inherited cancers work by:
Inheriting a mutation (first hit)
Acquiring another mutation on top of it (second hit)
What genes are activated in cancer proliferation?
Oncogenes
Cancer can occur when there are mutations in the genes responsible for DNA ___.
repair
Cancer is usually (Mendelian / multifactorial).
multifactorial
Which cancer does BRCA1 mutations cause?
Breast cancer
The BRCA1 gene is involved in DNA ___.
repair
Genetics tend to be just one ___ ___ in developing cancer.
risk factor
BRCA1 mutation leading to breast cancer is a (Mendelian / multifactorial) disease.
Mendelian
What aspects of a history would make you suspect someone had a Mendelian disorder?
Many people affected
Unusual cancers
Young age
What should you do if you suspect someone has a Mendelian disorder?
Offer gene testing
What would you do if you suspected someone had a multifactorial disease?
Calculate risk
Someone with a ___ history of disease is more likely to develop that disease.
family
