Biology of Cancer

Question 1

Explain Cell Cycle Checkpoints

Answer 1

specialized proteins act as stop signs that decide if cell division should occur
if not –> apoptosis

Question 2

Name the three checkpoints

Answer 2

• Before DNA replicates: cell has proper nutrients to support cell growth?
• Before Mitosis: is DNA replicated?
• During Metaphase: spindle fibers are attached? chromosomes on opposite poles?

Question 3

Necrosis

Answer 3

cells die from damage beyond repair
contents of cell leak out due to trauma in body part
surrounding cells swell and go red

Question 4

Apoptosis

Answer 4

programmed cell death
cell breaks down in organized way when too old/damaged
determined by specific genes –> code for proteins that kill cells in specific situations
Ex. finger toe development, infected with virus

Question 5

What is a Tumor?

Answer 5

a mass of clump of cells that continue to grow and divide without purpose

Question 6

What are two types of tumors?

Answer 6

Benign –> uniformly shaped like skin lumps, not harmful

Malignant –> abnormally shaped, cancerous

Question 7

What is Cancer?

Answer 7

cells dividing repeatedly after ignoring checkpoints
has a mutation that allows them to continue to divide
caused by carcinogens, disease, random, hereditary

Question 8

What is difference between tumor and cancer?

Answer 8

cancer is deadly, can break away into body

Question 9

Metastasis

Answer 9

when cancer cells break away from tumor into body

Question 10

Difference between normal and cancer cells?

Answer 10

Normal: anymore than 20-30 division can lead to mutations so apoptosis

Cancer: mutation makes them keep dividing as it doesn’t recognize cell death-causing proteins