Lecture 32 - Cancer Genetics I

Question 1

What cancer does mutation of the Palladin gene contribute to?

L32 S21

Answer 1

Pancreatic cancer

Question 2

What hypothesis did Knudson play a role in developing?

L32 S27

Answer 2

“The 2 hit hypothesis”

Cancer requires multiple mutations

Question 3

What is the hallmark of cancer development?

L32 S33

Answer 3

Genomic instability because it leads to mutations that lead to cancer

Question 4

There are some variances in cancer susceptibility based on geography that cannot be explained by genetic factors alone.

Answer 4

Be aware of this

Question 5

Define oncogenes and tumor-suppressor genes.

L32 S41

Answer 5

Oncogene:
-mutated, dominant stimulatory genes that cause cancer

Tumor-suppressor gene:
-mutated, recessive inhibitory gene that is inactivated causing cancer

Question 6

What does the term “loss of heterozygosity” mean?

L32 S41

Answer 6

When a cell that has only one functioning copy of a tumor suppressor gene loses that copy and therefore becomes cancerous

Question 8

What is one of the most important tumor suppressor genes?

L32 S45

Answer 8

p53:

-regulates cell division, apoptosis, DNA repair, and others