Genetics Flashcards
At what level is cancer a genetic disease
somatic level
What type of mutation largely causes cancer
mosaicism caused by post-zygotic mutation
Heterogenous
What are driver mutations
mutations that cause carcinogenesis
What are the two classes of driver mutations
oncogenes and tumour suppressors
Cells acquire mutations as they divide. WHat exist to attempt to fix these mutations? (even though not perfect)
repair mechanisms
What are the genes that are involved in cancer
Oncogenes - switch these on for cell division
Tumour suppressors - switch these on to stop cell division
DNA repair genes - repair DNA damage
Drug Metabolism - genes that metabolise carcinogens
What are driver mutations
mutations that drive carcinogenesis
What are passenger mutations
Incidental mutations that happen because the tumour is unstable
What does methylation do
switches genes off
prevents transcription
Deficient DNA repair genes or tumour suppressor genes due to hypermethylation - cancer
Where does methylation occur
Cytosine bases just before guanine bases
what do abnormalities of methylation cause?
genetic disease
what does methylation cause in cancer
gene splicing
where does Robyn want to live?
Aussie Aussie Aussie
