Biology & Immunology Flashcards

1
Q

4 Bases of DNA

A

Adenine
Thymine
Guanine
Cytosine

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2
Q

Transcription

A

Process for DNA to RNA via RNA polymerase

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3
Q

Translation

A

Process from mRNA to strand of amino acids which forms a protein

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4
Q

Essential Amino Acids

A
Histidine
Isoleucine
Leucine
Lysine
Methionine
Phenylalanine
Threonine
Tryptophan
Valine
Arginine*
Cysteine*
Glutamine*
Pyrrolysine*
Proline*
Selenocysteine*
Serine*
Tyrosine*
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5
Q

Which cells don’t proliferate after birth?

A

Nerve cells
Muscle cells
Cardiac cells

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6
Q

Which cells are capable of self-renewal?

A

Stem cells

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7
Q

2 Types of Growth Factors

A

Stimulate cell division

Inhibit cell division

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8
Q

Cell Cycle Phases

A
G0
G1
S
G2
M
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9
Q

Define G0 Phase

A

A resting phase where the cell has left the cycle & has stopped dividing

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10
Q

Define G1 Phase

A

Cells increase in size

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11
Q

What is the G1 checkpoint?

A

Control mechanism ensures that everything is ready for DNA synthesis

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12
Q

Define S Phase

A

DNA replication occurs during this phase

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13
Q

Define G2 Phase

A

Gap between DNA synthesis & mitosis

Cell continues to grow

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14
Q

What is the G2 checkpoint?

A

Control mechanism ensures that everything is ready to enter the M phase & divide

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15
Q

Define M

A

Cell growth stops at this stage & cellular energy is focused on the orderly division into two daughter cells

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16
Q

What is the metaphase checkpoint?

A

Ensures that the cell is ready to complete cell division

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17
Q

2 Categories of Cancer Genes

A

Dominant: proto-oncoggenes
Recessive: tumor suppressor

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18
Q

Define Gain of Function Mutations

A

Altered or unregulated activity of a “photo-oncogene” leads to tumorigenesis

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19
Q

Define Loss of Function Mutations

A

Loss of activity of tumor suppressors results in unregulated pathways and tumorigenesis

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20
Q

“Hallmarks of Cancer”

A
Self-sufficiency in growth signals
Insensitivity to anti-growth signals
Evading apoptosis
Limitless reproductive potential
Capacity to invade other tissues
Sustained angiogenesis
Tissue invasion & metastases
Genomic instability
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21
Q

How do cancer cells invade our bodies?

A
Resisting apoptosis
CSCs forming resistant phenotypes
Epithelial-mesenchymal transitions
Interactions with microenvironment
Invadopodia & aquaporins
Genetic alterations
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22
Q

Invadopodia

A

Actin rich membrane protrusion formed by invasive cancer cells (protrude through basement membranes)

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23
Q

Cancer Stages

A
Stage 0: mucosa level
Stage 1: through the submucosa
Stage 2: through the muscle layers
Stage 3: through the serosa
Stage 4: through serosa and spread to other organs
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24
Q

of Mutations with Gain of Function

A

Single mutation event

25
Q

of Mutations with Loss of Function

A

2 mutation events

26
Q

How do proto-oncogenes normally function?

A

Associated with cell growth, cell division, & cell differention

27
Q

What can proto-oncogenes be?

A

Cell surface receptors
Adapter molecules
Enzymes: kinases/phosphatases

28
Q

Type of Cells in Carcinomas

A

Epithelial cells

29
Q

Types of Cells in Sarcomas

A

Connective tissue cells

30
Q

Types of Cells in Lymphomas & Leukemias

A

Blood

31
Q

Types of Cells in Germ Cell Tumors

A

Testicle & ovary

32
Q

Types of Cells in Blastomas

A

Immature cells

Embryonic tissue

33
Q

Methods of Identification of Cancer Critical Genes

A

Assay for oncogenic effects
Study of rare syndromes-tumor suppressors
Candidate genes
Genomics

34
Q

How does Metastasis Occur?

A
Transformed cell
Invasion of basement membrane
Passage through extracellular matrix
Intravasation
Interaction with lymphoid cells
Tumor embolus
Adhesion to basement membrane
Extravasation
Metastatic deposit
Angiogenesis
Growth
35
Q

How does cancer spread throughout the body?

A

Blood stream
Lymphatic fluid system
Seed into peritoneal, pericardial, or pleural spaces

36
Q

Most Common Site of Breast Metastasis

A

Bone

37
Q

Most Common Site of Colorectal Metastasis

A

Liver

38
Q

Most Common Site of Prostate Metastasis

A

Bone

39
Q

Why are some cancers more aggressive than others?

A

Biology: ploidy

Aneuploidy

40
Q

Grading of Tumors

A

1: Well differentiated
2: Moderately differentiated
3: Poorly differentiated
4: Undifferentiated anaplastic

41
Q

Characteristics & Growth Rate of Well Differentiated Tumors

A

Characteristics: looks like tissue of origin
Growth: slow, close to normal cell divisions

42
Q

Characteristics & Growth Rate of Moderately Differentiated Tumors

A

Characteristics: many features like tissue of origin; less organized
Growth: faster; occasional mitosis

43
Q

Characteristics & Growth Rate of Well Differentiated Tumors

A

Characteristics: few features of tissue of origin; little organization
Growth: more mitosis

44
Q

Characteristics & Growth Rate of Undifferentiated Anaplastic Tumors

A

Characteristics: no features to help distinguish origin
Growth: Mitoses throughout tissue

45
Q

Old Cancer Model

A

Tumor cells can form new tumors & are tumorigenic
Unregulated growth due to expression of genes that promote cell proliferation, silencing of growth inhibitory genes, & blunting of cell death
Cancer is proliferative disease

46
Q

New Cancer Model

A

Tumors arise from cancer stem cells
Unregulated growth due to a disruption in regulatory mechanisms in stem cell renewal
Cancer is a stem cell disorder
Stem cells persist in tumors which causes relapses & metastasis

47
Q

What do traditional cancer therapies treat?

A

Kill rapidly dividing tumor cells but spare the stem cells that give rise to a new tumor

48
Q

What should halt a tumor’s growth & lead to it’s disappearance?

A

Killing cancer stem cells

49
Q

What are cancer stem cells?

A

Cells that have properties of normal stem cells such as:

1) ability to self-renew
2) ability to differentiate into multiple cel types
3) form distinct population in tumors that likely causes disease relapse & metastasis

50
Q

What cancers are more common with hereditary breast/ovarian cancer syndrome?

A
Breast
Ovarian
Male breast
Prostate
Pancreatic
51
Q

What cancers are more common with Lynch (HNPCC) syndrome?

A
Colon
Gastric
Endometrial
Ovarian
Small bowel
Pancreas
Brain
Ureters
Kidney
52
Q

What cancers are more common with familial adenomatous polyposis syndrome?

A
Colon
Stomach
Thyroid
Brain
Liver
Adrenal gland
53
Q

Less Common Hereditary Cancer Syndromes

A
Li-Fraumeni Syndrome
Cowden Syndrome
Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome
Xeroderma pigmentosa syndrome
Von Hippel-Lindau Syndrome
Multiple endocrine neoplasia-1 syndrome
54
Q

Common Cancers with Li-Fraumeni Syndrome

A
Breast
Bone
LEukemia
Brain
Soft tissue sarcomas
55
Q

Common Cancers with Cowden Syndrome

A
Breast
Uterine
Thyroid
Ovarian
Colon
56
Q

Common Cancers with Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome

A
Colon
Small bowel
Breast
Ovarian
Pancreatic
57
Q

Common Cancers with Xeroderma Pigmentosa Syndrome

A

Basal cell
Squamous cell
Melanoma

58
Q

Common Cancers with Von Hippel-Lindau Syndrome

A
Brain
Retina
Kidney
Pancreas
Adrenal gland
59
Q

Common Cancers with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia-1 Syndrome

A

Pancreas
Pituitary
Parathyroid
Thyroid