7. Cancer, Oncogenes, Tumor Suppressors

Question 1

What are oncogenes?

Answer 1

mutated genes that induce cancer

Question 2

What are protooncogenes?

Answer 2

normal versions of genes that allow for regular growth patterns but can be converted into oncogenes under the right circumstances

Question 3

What are tumor suppressor genes?

Answer 3

genes that produce proteins that are the inherent defense system to prevent the conversion of cells into cancer cells

Question 4

What are the two primary means of cancer prevention?

Answer 4

1. detect damage to the genome and halt cell growth and division until damage can be repaired
2. trigger programmed cell death if damage is too severe

Question 5

What is apoptosis?

Answer 5

programmed cell death

Question 6

What are the two ways, including examples, cell death can be triggered?

Answer 6

internal = p53 reaching critical levels
external = nitric oxide, toxins, cytokines

Question 7

What are caspases?

Answer 7

family of proteases responsible for carrying out the events of apoptosis

Question 8

What are the two main groups of caspases?

Answer 8

initiators
effectors

Question 9

What are initiator caspases?

Answer 9

respond to extra or intracellular death signals by clustering together and activating each other

Question 10

What are effector caspases?

Answer 10

cealve a variety of cellular proteins to trigger apoptosis

Question 11

What is oxidative stress?

Answer 11

occurs when the level of production of reactive oxygen species outstrips the cells ability to detoxify them

Question 12

What is senescence?

Answer 12

process of biological aging which occurs at both the cellular and organismal level