biology Flashcards
what is cancer?
- body cell’s grow and reproduce uncontrollably
- the mass is called a malignant tumour
where do malignant tumours most often form?
internal organs but also skin, bones
what is metastatis?
when cancer begins in one part of the body and spreads to another
what increases the risk of cancer?
1/3 cancers behaviour and diet related
high BMI, low fruit/veg, lack of exercise, smoking, drinking
what is a carcinoma?
cancerous tumour starting from the skin (epithelial tissue)
what is a sarcoma?
cancerous tissue arising from connective tissue such as the muscle
what is leukaemia?
cancerous tumour in bone marrow where white blood cells are formed?
what are lymphomas?
cancercous tissues formed in the lymphatic system, where white blood cells are formed
what is a benign tumour?
- one that does not metastasise
- doesn’t contain cancerous cells
- don’t invade surrounding tissue/spread to other sites
problems with benign tumours?
they can grow large enough to cause pain and be life threatening
what is the purpose of the nucleus?
- contains genetic material
- controls cell
- contains DNA to instruct protein synthesis
- CELL DIVISION OCCURS
- produces cell organelles
what is the cytoplasm?
- aqueous material
- complex network of microtubules and filaments
- allows movement of molecules around the cell
what is mitosis?
- cell division where all daughter cells have the same no. of chromosomes as the parent
- all cells apart from sex cells
what is meiosis?
only half of the chromosomes found in the parent cell are in the daughter cell?
how does the cell control breakdown in cancer cells?
- cells no longer respond to normal controls that determine growth
- tissues can then grow, invade and crowd out other tissues
- mitosis breaks down
