Uncontrolled Cell Division & Cancer Flashcards

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1
Q

Cancerous cells divide repeatedly and uncontrollably, forming a

A

tumour (an irregular mass of cells)

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1
Q

Cancers demonstrate how important it is that cell division is precisely controlled, as cancers arise due to

A

uncontrolled cell division

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2
Q

Cancers start when changes occur in the

A

genes that control cell division

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3
Q

A random change in any gene is known as a

A

mutation

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4
Q

If the mutated gene is one that causes cancer it is referred to as an

A

oncogene

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5
Q

Mutations are common events and don’t lead to cancer most of the time
Most mutations either result in

A

early cell death or result in the cell being destroyed by the body’s immune system

As most cells can be easily replaced, these events usually have no harmful effect on the body

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6
Q

The mutations that result in the generation of cancerous cells do not result in ………………..

This means that the harmful mutation occurring in the original cell can be passed on to all that cell’s descendants

A typical tumour contains around a thousand million cancerous cells by the time it is detected

A

early cell death or in the cell being destroyed by the body’s immune system

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7
Q

Carcinogens are

and examples

A

Carcinogens are any agents that may cause cancer (eg. UV light, tar in tobacco smoke and X-rays). If the agent causes cancer it is described as carcinogenic

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8
Q

Some tumours (such as warts) do not spread from their original site – these are known as

A

benign tumours and do not cause cancer

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9
Q

Some tumours spread through the body, invading and destroying other tissues – these are known as……………. and …………… cancer

A

malignant tumours

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10
Q

Malignant tumours interfere with the normal functioning of the organ / tissue in which they have started to grow (eg. they may block the

A

intestines, lungs or blood vessels

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11
Q

Malignant tumour cells can break off the tumour and travel through the

A

blood and / or lymphatic system to form secondary growths in other parts of the body

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12
Q

malignant tumour cells can break off the tumour and travel through the blood and / or lymphatic system to form secondary growths in other parts of the body

The spreading of cancers in this way is known as

A

Metastasis is very dangerous as it can be very difficult to detect, locate and remove secondary cancers

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13
Q

Viruses like what can cause cancer

A

HPV cervical

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