Cancer

Question 0

Oncogenes

Answer 0

Mutant genes that cause malignant transformations. Overexpression or amplification causes gain of function.

Question 1

Point mutation

Answer 1

The alteration of one or a few nucleotide base pairs, can have profound affects on the activity of proteins

Question 2

Proto-oncogenes

Answer 2

Oncogene in its normal, nonmutant state, examples ras and growth factor or growth factor receptors, destroy the signals between the membrane and the nucleus in cancer

Question 3

Tumor suppressor gene

Answer 3

Normal role- inhibit cell proliferation

Cancers deactive these genes allowing cancer to grow

Question 4

Pluripotent stem cells

Answer 4

Undifferentiated cells that can become any type of Cell

Question 5

Differentiation

Answer 5

Process that a cells goes through to become matured, functional

Question 6

Dedifferentation

Answer 6

Cancers cells unable to differentiate into functional cells, so reproduction of the cell does not occur

Question 7

What are the characteristics of cancer cells

Answer 7

Excessive cell growth, promotes own blood supply, failure to differentiate, able to metastasize, ability to live forever, genetic instability, ignore cell signals for contact inhibition