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Multiple Choice
How can light from the sun contribute to the development of skin cancer in humans?
A
Visible light from the sun increases melanin production, which directly causes skin cancer.
B
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from sunlight can damage DNA in skin cells, leading to mutations that may cause skin cancer.
C
Sunlight increases vitamin D synthesis, which triggers uncontrolled cell division in the skin.
D
Infrared radiation from sunlight heats the skin, causing cancerous cell growth.
Verified step by step guidance
1
Step 1: Understand the role of sunlight in skin cancer development. Sunlight contains different types of radiation, including visible light, ultraviolet (UV) radiation, and infrared radiation. Among these, UV radiation is the primary contributor to skin cancer.
Step 2: Explain the mechanism of UV radiation's effect on DNA. UV radiation can penetrate the skin and interact with DNA in skin cells. This interaction can cause structural damage to the DNA, such as the formation of thymine dimers, which disrupt normal DNA replication and repair processes.
Step 3: Discuss how DNA damage leads to mutations. When DNA repair mechanisms fail to correct UV-induced damage, mutations can accumulate in the DNA. These mutations may affect genes that regulate cell growth and division, such as tumor suppressor genes or oncogenes.
Step 4: Connect mutations to cancer development. Mutations in critical genes can lead to uncontrolled cell division and the formation of tumors, which are characteristic of cancer. Over time, these tumors can become malignant and spread to other parts of the body.
Step 5: Clarify misconceptions in the problem. Visible light, infrared radiation, and vitamin D synthesis are not directly responsible for causing skin cancer. The correct answer is that UV radiation from sunlight damages DNA in skin cells, leading to mutations that may cause skin cancer.