Cancer and Mutations Flashcards
(19 cards)
Point mutation
When one of the DNA bases are replace with another causing for the Animo acid to change
Nonsense Mutation
Where the RNA sequence leads to a stop codon (protein level)
Frame shift
This will change the reading frame of the RNA
Does frame shift or point mutations have a stronger impact
Frame shift has a more significant on the protein than point mutations
Missense mutation
change one Animo acid to another
Sickle Cell diease
When a protein called hemoglobin is found in human blood -> mutated into a less active form “Hbs”
Apoptosis
When cells undergo programmed cell death or apoptosis < where it eliminates uneccesary cells> during development or damage cells in the mature organism
Regulation of the cell cycle
To remain health its critical for an organism to maintain the right # of cells
What happens when cell cycle regulators send the wrong signals?
To few cells -> hair loss
Too many cells -> warts & tumors
Key concept of cancer
Is the uncontrolled division of cells this is b/c of an improperly regulated cell cycle
Proto-oncogenes
When they help the cell when need -> if the genes mutate into oncogenes it like the gas pedal getting stuck making the cell divide too much
Tumor Supressive genes
They are like the brakes they slow down or stop cell division when neccessary
Malingant tumors
Can invade other tissues Radiation and chemotherapy help with cell division that are out of control
What happens with the tumor and cell division activity goes through your blood stream?
It can be fatal to the host as more tumors will start appearing
Rock pocket mice pigments. How are they made?
Eumelanin = dark colored
Phenomelanin = light colored
The making of these pigments are controlled by the Mc1r gene
What happen to the Mc1r gene mutated?
Triggers melanocytes to increase production of eumelanin = dark coat
What are one of the critical processes monitored by the cell-cycle checkpoint for proper DNA replication?
The S phase
Can you still get mutation, even if the cell cycle controls are fully functional?
A small percentage of replication errors (mutations) will be passed on to the daughter cells.
How does cancer start?
When a gene mutations, is formed from a wrong protein that plays a key role in cell reproduction
