Cancer

• What is cancer?

  Uncontrolled cell division/ growth
• How is the cell cycle monitored/ controlled?

  Each stage is controlled by checkpoint proteins which activate/ inhibit enzymes, allowing the cell to move to the next stage of the cycle.
• What genes are responsible for cell division?

  Oncogene

  Tumour Suppressant Gene
• What is the oncogene?


  It codes for proteins that stimulate the cell cycle.

  • due to a mutation, less methylation happens which leads to it becoming too active.
  • this can lead to uncontrollable cell division, forming tumours
• What is the tumour suppresant gene (TSG)?

  It produces suppressor proteins that stop the cell cycle.

  • due to a mutation, DNA replication happens at a rapid pace, increasing the rate of the cell cycle, leading to uncontrollable growth, causing cancer
• What is the p-53 gene?

  Tumor suppressor.

  • it inhibits enzymes by stopping S phase (DNA replication)
• How can epigenetics lead to cancer?

  Abnormal methylation of genes in cancer cells can lead to the activation of genes involved in the control of the cell cycle. This could cause activation of genes that promote cell division
• What causes cancer?

  DNA mutations
• How can inheritance cause cancer?

  If DNA is incorrectly copied during gamete formation
• What are the environmental causes of the cancer?

  Obesity

  Free radicals in food