Lab 7 - Cancer Genetics

Question 1

Two Truths & One Lie:
Restriction Enzymes:
- Can be used to split genes
- PCR to amplify
- Electrophoresis to separate by weight

Answer 1

3- Electrophoresis to separate by size

Question 2

What are proto-oncogenes?

Answer 2

Genes that control timing of cell division & differentiation/specialization

Question 3

What process causes a proto-oncogene to become an oncogene?

Answer 3

Mutation

Question 4

What do oncogenes permit?

Answer 4

Abnormal growth & reproduction

Question 5

What do tumour suppressor genes do?

Answer 5

Slow down cell division & correct DNA mistakes
Indicate when cells should undergo programmed cell death

Question 6

How many tumour suppressors have been found in humans?

Answer 6

~25

Question 7

What does becoming apoptotic mean?

Answer 7

Undergoing programmed cell death

Question 8

What can happen when tumour suppressors mutate?

Answer 8

Cancer due to cell cycle dysregulation & immortalization

Question 9

What is the p53 gene an example of?

Answer 9

Tumour suppressor genes

Question 10

What chromosome is the protein-coding gene p53 on?

Answer 10

15

Question 11

What does the p53 protein do?

Answer 11

Binds DNA & stimulates production of the p21 gene

Question 12

What does the protein created by the p21 gene do?

Answer 12

Interacts with cdk2 (cyclin-dependent kinase 2) and arrests the cell at G1 or S. Kind of like a stop signal

Question 13

What happens if one copy of the p53 gene is mutated?

Answer 13

Predisposition to cancer

Question 14

What are often causes of colorectal cancer?

Answer 14

Mutations in the Adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene or in the beta-catenin.

Question 15

What happens in the beginning of colorectal cancer (CRC)?

Answer 15

Benign neoplasms (polyps) within the colon

Question 16

What does the APC gene regulate?

Answer 16

beta-catenin and E-cadherin (cell adhesion)

Question 17

What does BLAST stand for?

Answer 17

Basic Local Alignment Search Tool